Farmers from Madukkarai, Thondamuthur, Periyanaickenpalayam. Annur. Sarkarsamakulam, Sulthanpettai, Pollachi (north), Anaimalai who are affected by the drought will be provided compensation says minister S.P. Velumani. A team lead by minister S.P. Velumani comprising of additional chief secretary for Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department of Tamil Nadu government along with Deputy Speaker of Tamil Nadu assembly Pollachi. V. Jeyaraman and District collector T.N. Hariharan conducted an inspection at the drought-hit areas in the Coimbatore district.
When speaking to the press minister S.P. Velumani said, “As per the directions of the chief minister teams has been formed all over the state with a minister as the head and the drought situation is being analysed. Data is being collected from all the districts. The average rainfall in the last ten years in Coimbatore district is of 671 mm. In last year the district received a rainfall of 223mm. It is 67.5 % less than the average rainfall”.
He added that “During the year 2016, the rainfall received in the district was 109.1mm against the average rainfall of 333.3mm. This is 67.3% less than the average rainfall. Due to the severe deficit in the rainfall in 2016 Cholam which was planted in 8230 hectares has been impacted. Corn which was planted in 1665 hectares out of the total 2961, 2200 hectares of dhal varieties which were planted in an area of 4662 hectare has been impacted.”
“This kind of drought is witnessed after 140 years. Out of 296 villages in Coimbatore district 276 villages have been hit by drought. Efforts will be made to collect data on all the affected areas and 100% compensation will be provided to the farmers” he said.
MP A.P. Nagarajan, MP C. Mahendran, MLAs P.R.G. Arunkumar, Amman. K. Arjunan, O.K. Chinnaraj, K. Kanagaraj, Ettimadai Shanmugam, Kasthuri Vasu, District Revenue officer T. Christhuraj, Pollachi sub collector Gayathri Krishnan, Trainee collector Priyanaka, Additional director of District Rural Development Agency Ruban Shankarraj, Revenue Thasildar Madhuranthaki, Joint director of Agriculture Chandrasekaran, Assistant director Iqbal, Personal assistant to district collector (Agriculture) Mohanraj Samuel and government officials were present during the inspection.