Tamil Nadu to be declared drought-hit, says Chief Minister

O. Panneerselvam announces a slew of relief measures, including waiver of land tax for farmers.

A parched land at M. Kannanur village near Tiruchi makes this man look up in distress.

Tamil Nadu, comprising 32 districts, will be declared drought affected in view of poor rainfall received during the northeast monsoon, Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said on Tuesday.

He announced a slew of relief measures, including waiver of land tax for farmers, to tackle drought situation in the State.

As 17 farmers had ‘committed suicide’ due to ‘various reasons’, the government would grant a solatium of Rs. 3 lakh to families of each of these farmers, he said.

As for media reports that highlighted farmers' deaths due to drought, he said detailed reports were sought from Collectors and further compensation would be granted based on the reports.

As huge funds were required to protect people from drought, assistance from the Centre would be sought and a petition sent to the Centre at the earliest, Mr. Panneerselvam said in a statement.

The measures to tackle drought include efforts to convert crop loans from cooperative banks and commercial banks into medium term loans. Cooperative banks have lent loans to the tune of Rs. 3,028 crore this year and all of them would be converted into medium term loans.

A parched land at M. Kannanur village near Tiruchi makes this man look up in distress.

A dry well at Siruganur village in Tiruchi district reflects the receding groundwater table across the State.

Homage being paid to farmers, who allegedly committed suicide due to crop failure in the delta region, in Tiruchi recently.

Areas with high groundwater levels also suffered badly this year due to poor rains. The dry Kalyana odai canal in Thanjavur bears testimony to the water crisis.

A farmer sorts out chilies at his farm near Udhagamandalam. Due to demonetisation and excess produce, the prices of chillies have dropped sharply.

Farmers stage a novel protest demanding supply of Cauvery water for irrigation in the delta region, in Tiruchi. The symbolic protest was meant to highlight the plight of Tamil Nadu farmers who could not take up samba cultivation owing to the intransigence of the Karnataka government, they said.

CPI cadres picket the Coimbatore Collectorate, urging the government to declare Tamil Nadu as drought-hit. Photo: M. Periasamy

Minister for Forests C. Seenivasan inspects withered crops at Venkatachalapuram near Andipatti. Standing crops on 42,943 acres were affected owing to acute drought and failure of monsoon in Theni district.

Minister for PWD, State Highways and Minor Ports Edappadi' K. Palaniswami inspects the crop affected due to drought conditions in Salem district.

Minister for Municipal Administration S.P. Veluman visits drought-affected areas in Coimbatore. Due to poor rainfall, 8,230 of 9,869 ha of maize, 1,665 of 2,916 ha of jowar, and 2,200 of 4,662 ha under pulses, had been affected.

Aggrieved farmers with withered crops demand compensation of Rs. 30,000 per acre of affected land during a grievance redressal meeting in Thoothukudi.

Farmers conveying their grievances to Agriculture Minister R. Duraikkannu in Puthupattinam, near Thanjavur. The State Cabinet will study the reports being prepared from all districts on drought and crop loss and would take a call on the measures to be adopted, including declaring certain pockets of the State drought-hit. Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam

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Relief for crop failure would be paid as per an order notified in this regard on October 27, 2015. Crop cutting experiment would be undertaken to ensure that farmers received insurance claims.

A sum of Rs. 3,400 crore would be spent for desilting reservoirs and channels and restoration of lakes, which would also ensure employment for farming workers. The days of work for workers under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme would be increased to 150 days from the existing 100 days to ensure livelihood for farmers affected by drought.

A sum of Rs. 78 crore would be spent for the fodder needs of cattle and Rs. 160 crore would be earmarked for works for improving resources for the drinking water needs in urban areas through the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department. A sum of Rs. 350 crore would be allocated for the same in rural areas through Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department.

While Rs. 5 crore would be allocated to boost fodder and drinking water resources to the wildlife, Rs. 25 crore would be allocated to the PWD for improving the groundwater table and to boost drinking water resources, he said.

The government's decisions follow the submission of reports from all districts on Monday.