Expressing concern over increasing cases of foot-and-mouth disease among head of cattle in Thanjavur district, farmers who attended the monthly grievances day meeting at the collectorate here on Wednesday, appealed to the District Collector to pay compensation for the animals lost to disease by farmers.
They said that many head of cattle died in Kumbakonam, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Orathanadu, and Thiruppanandal panchayat unions. They demanded payment of Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25,000 to milch animals and Rs. 4,000 for goats.
They said that Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd. Resorted to unscheduled load shedding for many hours in a day for the past one month. The rain was inadequate in the delta districts.
Cauvery water released from Mettur had not reached many tail end areas.
In such a situation, the State government, instead of blaming the Union Government should take steps to provide continuous power supply for agriculture pumpsets, the farmers said. A section of farmers staged a walk out in support of the above two demands.
Veterinary Department officials explained the precautionary measures to be taken up by farmers to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
N. Subbaiyan, Thanjavur District Collector, who presided over the meeting, said that samba transplantation had been completed so far on 1,05,530 hectares of land against the target of 1,18,140 hectares of land.
Kuruvai harvest had been completed on 28,294 hectares.
Thaladi transplantation had been completed on 25,020 hectares.
There was a stock of 10,312 tonnes of urea, 2,99 tonnes of di-ammonium phosphate, 5,002 tonnes of potash and 4,383 tonnes of complex fertilizers with Primary Agriculture Co-operative Credit Societies in the district and with private companies.
They were being distributed for the samba season.
