The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has urged the State government to declare Pudukottai as drought-hit.
A.Lazar, MLA and State executive committee member of the party, along with party leaders, inspected the withered crops left high and dry by sparse monsoon and poor irrigation in the coastal blocks of the district. Farmers have raised Savithri variety (BPT 5204) as early as August following the release of surplus water in the Cauvery from Karnataka.
The team visited Aranthangi, Manamelkudi, and Avudaiyarkoil to ascertain the extent of samba damage. Speaking to presspersons at the end of the inspection on Wednesday, Mr.Lazar said the district’s realisation of rainwater was too poor this season and discharge from Mettur too was quite low. A vast extent of samba had withered away shortly after germination. Even rain-fed crops had been devastated, he said.
Tuticorin, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram and Dindigul districts too have been hit, Mr.Lazar said and impressed upon the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, to declare these districts drought-hit.
He wanted adequate compensation for the affected farmers proportionate to the damage suffered.
The discharge from the Mettur should be stepped up to tide over drinking water crisis and to save livestock , he said.
M.Chinnadurai, district secretary, CPI (M), S.Rajasekaran, former MLA, accompanied him.
