Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Crops damages estimated at Rs.28.15 crore

— Photo: M. Moorthy

RELIEF EFFORT: Transport Minister K.N. Nehru distributing assistance to a farmer in Tiruchi on Monday. (From right) Forest Minister N. Selvaraj, Collector T. Soundiah and MP Tiruchi Siva are seen.

TIRUCHI: The damages caused to crops and infrastructure in the district in last week’s rain have been estimated at Rs.28.15 crore. The district administration will send a full report to the government before March 26. Compensation will be given soon to the affected farmers, Transport Minister K.N. Nehru told reporters on Monday.

Accompanied by Forest Minister N. Selvaraj and Collector T. Soundiah, he visited the rain-affected areas in Tiruverambur block. He distributed cash relief of Rs.2,000 each and essential commodities to 22 families, whose huts were damaged. Dhanapal of Ammapatti, near Thuraiyur, whose wife Vijayalakshmi was killed in a lightning strike, was given cash relief of Rs.1.02 lakh.

Giving details of the estimates on damages, Mr. Nehru said roads to a total stretch of 242 km, 32 irrigation channels and 13 bridges were damaged. Drainages to a length of 25.32 km, drinking water lines to a length of about 31.70 km and 5,017 group houses were also damaged.

As far as crop damage was concerned, pulses growers were the most affected. Blackgram raised in about 9,168 hectares (ha) were damaged. Paddy, cultivated late and at the harvest stage now, was affected in about 2,261 ha. Sunflower in about 214.40 ha, groundnut 21 in ha and gingelly in 56.12 ha were damaged.

The names of individual farmers affected by the rain would be compiled by the Revenue and Agriculture Departments. Temporary repairs to the damaged infrastructure, including roads, would start soon. Steps would be taken to repair the damaged group houses at the earliest.

The Pullampadi and Tiruverambur unions and parts of Lalgudi were the worst affected areas.

Among the 23 villages most affected were Pullampadi, Keezhakurichi, Kuvalakudi, Kodiyalam, Thayanur, E.Vellanur, Punjai Sangenthi, Kovandakurichi, Pudupalayam, Alangudi Mahajanam, Viragalur, Komakudi, Nadupatti, Thiruthalaiyur, Devarayaneri and Pathalapettai.

The department-wise estimates on the damages were as follows: Agriculture Department - Rs.4.63 crore; Tiruchi Corporation - Rs.13.26 crore, Municipalities - Rs.1.26 crore, Highways Department - Rs.110 crore and Rural Development – Rs.7.88 crore.

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