Tamil Nadu: EPS seeks Rs 30,000 per acre for rain-hit Delta farmers 

Chennai, Aug 23 (IANS) AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has urged the TVK-led government to immediately compensate farmers whose harvest-ready paddy crops were damaged by heavy rain and flooding in Tamil Nadu’s Delta districts. 

In a statement, Palaniswami said reports indicated that paddy cultivated on nearly 2,000 acres had been destroyed following intense and unexpected rainfall in Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and other Delta districts over the past two days. “Water is the lifeline of agriculture, and rain is its primary source. However, the sudden downpour has completely disrupted the lives of farmers cultivating paddy across nearly 2,000 acres,” he said.

The AIADMK leader said farmers were devastated after watching mature paddy crops, which were ready for harvesting, collapse and become submerged in rainwater. He maintained that it was the responsibility of the government to provide immediate relief and protect their livelihoods.

Taking a swipe at Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Palaniswami said the Chief Minister, who had spoken of his desire to be born as a farmer in his next life, should first take steps to protect farmers suffering in the present.

He pointed out that water had not been released from the Mettur dam on June 12 for Kuruvai cultivation. Consequently, many farmers had borrowed money and raised crops using groundwater. Their fields were ready for harvest when the unseasonal rain struck, leaving them facing severe financial distress.

Palaniswami also recalled the ruling alliance’s election promise to waive agricultural loans obtained by farmers from cooperative banks. He alleged that, after coming to power, the government had begun speaking of implementing the waiver gradually and in instalments, causing anger and disappointment among farmers.

The former Chief Minister demanded that the government immediately send teams comprising officials from the Revenue and Agriculture departments to the rain-affected areas of Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and other Delta districts. The teams should conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage without delay and ensure that no affected cultivator was excluded from the relief measures, he said.

Palaniswami urged the government to provide compensation of Rs 30,000 per acre to every farmer whose crops had been damaged. Immediate financial assistance was essential as many cultivators had invested borrowed money and were expecting to repay their debts after the harvest, he added.

--IANS

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