Minister vows relief for crop failure and family of deceased farmers

Speaking to the media persons after visiting the fields in the district, the minister said, the state has been reeling under severe drought. Hence the Government which continues the legacy of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has embarked upon this exercise to protect the livelihood of farmers, he said. 

He pointed out that the team with the help of local body representatives would submit its reports to the Government. 

Based on these reports the Government would distribute compensation to farmers as done during 2012-13 by the then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. When questioned about the death of farmers due to crop failure, he said the District collectors, District revenue officers are collecting the details of the farmers who died due to the crop loss and their families would also be given compensation. He was accompanied by Satyabrata Sahoo, the Transport Commissioner, MPs. R Vaithilingam, R Parasuraman and officers of agriculture department. 

It is said, as per the preliminary estimates samba paddy crop in 1.44 lakh acres, out of 2.62 lakh acres of total cultivated area, are in water-stressed condition and almost damaged. The remaining crop in 1.16 lakh acres need at least three more spell of irrigation, the official added. The exact area of crop damage would be known only after complete enumeration, the official added. 

In Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu Minister for Handlooms OS Manian visited various parts of this district to assess the drought situation and crop loss. Accompanied by District Collector S Palanisamy, MLAs and revenue officials, the Minister inspected the paddy fields in all the six blocks of the district, where farmers affected by the crop loss explained the ground realities to the team and sought suitable compensation.