Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

State severely hit: team

By G. Srinivasan

Thanjavur Jan. 31. The Central team on a tour of Tamil Nadu drought-hit districts visited Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts today.

The team comprising Ashish Bahuguna, Joint Secretary, Agriculture, R.K.Ojha, Deputy Secretary, Women and Child Welfare, P.V.V.G.Kutty, Director Rural Development and C.S.Sen, Director, Animal Husbandry, Union Government, inspected paddy fields at Ramanathapuram and Sakkarasamam in Thanjavur district and Mudikondan and Keelapanangudi in Tiruvarur district.

Mr.Bahuguna told presspersons that Tamil Nadu was "acutely affected by drought". The "severity is seen in damage to crop and drinking water scarcity".

In both places, farmers said they did not have even drinking water and demanded compensation.

Farmers and officials explained to the team the need for further wetting of standing crops in some places, which are in the "heading" stage.

The team enquired about groundwater level and water in the well in their houses. They suggested that along with paddy, farmers try other crops and make arrangements for storing water.

The team also inspected a borewell sunk during kuruvai at Vandampalayam and a building constructed for self help group as part of relief work at Ammaiyappan in Tiruvaur district.

In Thanjavur district, farmers impressed upon the team the need for desilting Kallaperambur lake, as it had an ayacut of 2000 ha in ten villages in the Budalur area.

The Collector, S.Kosalaraman, said of 88,463 ha on which samba and thaladi crops were raised this year, crops withered on 41,278 ha.

Our Nagapattinam Staff Reporter reports

Addressing a farmers meeting held at the District Collectorate here, Mr.Bahuguna said special efforts were required to meet the grave situation in the delta region and a different yardstick was necessary to assess damages.

The immediate need was to address problems of employment, drinking water scarcity and human and cattle hygiene.

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