Kerala - Kannur   

Declare Kannur disaster-hit: MLA

Staff Reporter

Puts loss in heavy rain at Rs.50 crore

KANNUR: K. Sudhakaran, MLA, has called upon the State Government to declare Kannur a natural-calamity-hit district, as heavy rain had destroyed crops and properties on a massive scale during the past few days.

At a press conference here on Tuesday, convened by the Kerala Pradesh Karshaka Congress district committee, Mr. Sudhakaran said the loss was estimated at Rs. 50 crore. Three people died and 30 were injured and 14 houses were destroyed and nearly 800 damaged partially in the incessant rain and wind a few days ago.

He said rubber farmers suffered a loss of Rs. 25 crore, as the wind wrought havoc on a large extent of their plantations. Nearly 25,000 rubber trees had been uprooted in Chapparappadavu panchayat area.

The interim relief of Rs. 20 lakh released by the Government for the district could do little to relieve the sufferings of the affected people, he said. The Government’s estimate of the loss was Rs. 5 crore, based on old rates fixed for destroyed property and crop.

Urging the Government to take urgent initiatives to pay compensation to the affected people, Mr. Sudhakaran demanded a special package for them. A sum of Rs. 25 crore should be sanctioned as emergency relief for the district.

Karshaka Congress State general secretary K.J. Joseph accused cooperative banks in the district of initiating attachment procedures against farmers at a time when the latter were struggling in the wake of the natural calamity. He warned of agitation, including a fast, if the banks did not suspend the move.

Karshaka Congress district president K.C. Vijayan, State secretary A.D. Sabus and the former District Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph were present.

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