The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Where flowers failed to bloom

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 10, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Where flowers failed to bloom

K. Manikandan

Floodwaters of Adyar river scotched hopes of Gowl Bazaar farmers Floodwaters of Adyar river scotched hopes of Gowl Bazaar farmers

LOST SCENT: Acres of jasmine plants have been ravaged by the overflowing river Adyar near Gowl Bazaar off Pallavaram, affecting several farmers. — Photo : A. Muralitharan

TAMBARAM : What was an expanse of green weeks ago is nowin a shambles. The jasmine and vegetable plants reflect the mood of a few hundred families of Gowl Bazaar village who were just about ready for a good harvest.

Floodwaters from the Adyar river not only damaged their homes but also left a few hundred acres of cultivated land in the area waterlogged. With gushing waters, till Tuesday morning, destroyed jasmine plants and vegetables raised on over 300 acres. Babu, who has raised 'malli' and 'mullai' on less than one acre, said jasmine plants were full-grown and flowering would have been in the first week of January.Similarly, acres of ladies finger, bitter gourd, ridge gourd and other vegetables were submerged under the surging waters.

The farmers said they thought their farms were safe, despite the proximity to the bund. The impact of the inundation was noticed only on Tuesday evening, as the water began to recede.

Though not very fertile land, the Gowl Bazaar farmers said the crops just about yielded enough to make both ends meet.

Babu and Saami, who have been cultivating jasmine and vegetables alternatively, said they used to sell all their produce at wholesale markets through commission agents. And , the returns they got would be just sufficient to take care of their expenses till the next harvest.

With no harvest in January, the farmers are yet to figure out what they intend doing for the next season.

They look forward to government assistance to raise crops that could fetch them an income in April — during the Tamil New Year season.

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