Cashew plantations in Pudukottai severely hit by Gaja

Giant Banyan Trees uprooted seen in Narthamalai at Pudukottai district on Monday. due to the "Gaja" cyclone.

NICA NO: 207132780 / 84 / 89 and 93

PUDUKOTTAI: Cashew plantations have been severely hit in Pudukottai district during the recent Gaja cyclone next only to coconut trees. As per the first-phase assessment done by the official machinery, cashew plantations to the extent of 6,000 acres in the district has suffered huge damage caused by the cyclone.

The phase-I assessment has been done with respect to damages to different tree species as well as agricultural and horticultural crops in the district. Official sources said 36,000 jack fruit trees, 4,000 acres of banana plantations, 3,500 acres of sugarcane, 2,000 acres of paddy and 3,000 acres of maize have also suffered damage.

In addition to these, 500 acres of mango trees, 650 acres of lemon, 400 acres of pepper, 1,700 acres of tapioca, 500 acres of flowers and over 700 tamarind trees have also got damaged when Gaja struck with fury. The Agricultural Department officials were carrying out the assessment not only in villages but also in hamlets across the district, said Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar who is also monitoring the pace of relief works in Pudukottai post Gaja.

Officials have been instructed to carry out the assessment completely and ensure that damages were not left out, he said. As the extent of damage was huge, relief works was posing a great challenge for the officials team, the Minister said adding that power supply had been restored to hospitals, overhead water tanks and six panchayat unions.

Works carried out by the relief teams were proceeding in full swing in the district involving 5,000 field-level workers according priority to supply of drinking water and restoration of power supply, Mr. Vijaya Baskar said.

Power supply has been restored to the Pudukottai Medical College Hospital on Sunday as well as to a couple of town panchayats in Viralimalai assembly constituency and Pudukottai municipality. As many as 45,000 electricity posts had got damaged which was posing a huge challenge in restoring power supply, he added.

EOM/RAM