Drought-affected farmers in the delta districts today sought Rs 25,000 to 30,000 per acre as compensation from the Central team that is currently on a state-wide tour to study the damage caused by the drought. In Thanjavur district, the ryots also demanded an insurance amount in full for the affected crops and relief for the kin of farmers who had committed suicide due to crop loss. The farmers of Tiruvarur district told the team that 2,015 acres of land had been affected, while in Tiruchirapalli the team visited Manachanallur, Lalgudi and Manaparai areas. Peasants in Nagapattinam district showed dry paddy fields to the team and submitted a memorandum in which they said that they had incurred 100 per cent crop failure as all the Samba transplanted paddy that were dependent on Cauvery water had already fully withered. Stressing the need for adequate relief for crop damage from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), farmers said they should get a minimum of Rs 30,000 per acre as compensation. Meanwhile, reports from Erode said, a two-member Central drought assessment team visited some villages in the district and said a detailed report on the drought situation would be submitted within a week’s time to the Centre. In Tuticorin, the panel member SP Chaudhary told reporters that there was no second opinion about the impact of drought in Tamil Nadu. A 10-member team deputed by the Centre is touring the state to assess the crop loss due to drought, and is likely to return to the capital city on January 25, before leaving for Delhi. Source - http://www.india.com