Frequent power shutdown and fall in prices have been causing concern to salt producers at Vedaranyam for the past couple of months. Though the summer showers brought some relief by way of a sudden hike in salt prices, it was short-lived due to frequent and unforeseen power shutdowns.
A number of salt farmers say that they need to use the diesel-operated engines for pumping backwaters into the fields as and when salt crystals start appearing in the waters.
They need uninterrupted power supply for pumping backwaters into the fields for about two hours at night and two hours in the day. But frequent power shutdown in and around Vedaranyam affected their trade. For instance, on Sundays, the power supply was suspended for about five hours. “The problem is compounded as the density of backwater increases fast due to the scorching sun,” say the farmers.
Apart from the shutdown, power cuts are experienced due to snapping of wires during strong winds in the area. “Sustained production is disturbed due to frequent power shutdowns,” says M. Gunasekaran (50), a senior farmer of Vedaranyam. C. Subramanian (44), another farmer, points out that the price stood at just Rs.80 a 100 kg as against Rs.110 – Rs.120 last summer. The farmers hope that the prices would increase after power supply stabilised.
The farmers say that some of them suffer ulcers as part of the occupational hazard.
“As we work in the backwaters for about six to eight hours daily, we develop ulcers in the legs. We tie a piece of cloth to protect our feet,” says M. Masilamani (45) another farmer.
