The widespread rainfall experienced by the district in the last few days had caused extensive damage to standing crop on 2,161 hectares across the district.
The crop damage had affected as many as 2,535 farmers, according to V. Sampath, District Collector.
The horticulture crops such as plantain raised on 65.73 hectares by 313 farmers too had suffered damages. The revenue, agriculture and horticulture officials have been inspecting the rain damaged fields to assess the loss suffered by the farmers.
Mr. Sampath said that compensation to the tune of Rs. 20.30 lakh had so far been disbursed to people. While Rs. 9.50 lakh had been given to the relatives of three persons who died, Rs. 10.08 lakhs had been disbursed to 235 people whose houses were damaged.
The farmers, who lost their cattle, were provided with a compensation of Rs. 72,000, the Collector said.
Minister for State Highways and Minor Ports Edapadi K. Palanisamy, on Tuesday, inspected the Kumaragiri lake in the Corporation limits. He made enquiries with the officials about the new path and protection fence constructed recently. He inspected the supply channel of the lake and directed the officials to clean and maintain it properly.
He directed the officials to ensure that the water released from the lake should not enter the residential localities and fields.
He also urged people residing in the nearby residential localities not to let the drainage water into the lake.
S. Soundappan, Mayor, V. Panneerselvam, MP, and K. R. Selvaraj, Corporation Commissioner, accompanied the Minister.
The Minister also inspected the rain hit areas in Mettur taluk. He said that of the 30 tanks under the control of PWD and panchayats, four tanks were already overflowing. S. Selvaraj, DRO and S. Aneesh Shekar, Sub-Collector, explained the relief measures undertaken in the taluk.
The heavy downpour received on Sunday night damaged the standing plantain crop in Poolampatti, pillukurichi villages in Edapadi block. Many plantains were totally uprooted.
Source - http://www.thehindu.com
