The district administration has recommended that the
government declare Krishnagiri drought-hit, said Collector C.N.
Maheshwaran here on Thursday.
He was replying to a
demand made by K.M. Ramagoundar, State General Secretary, Tamizhaga
Vivasayigal Sangam at the farmers’ grievances day meeting, for payment
of compensation for paddy that had withered due to lack of water,
cultivated in over 10,000 acres in the district.
Drought-hit
Mr. Maheshwaran said that the district administration had written to the government to declare Krishnagiri as drought district.
If
the government accepted the recommendations and made the announcement,
the farmers would get their share of compensation for paddy loss due to
lack of water.
Though there was enough water in
Kelevarapalli dam, the water had not been released at the proper time
and this was said to be the reason for the crop loss Mr. Ramagoundar
said. When a farmer demanded fertilizer for mango orchards, the
officials promised that it would be provided within a week.
Some of the farmers urged the agriculture department to extend subsidy for turmeric cultivation in the district.
Mr. Maheshwaran said that the district administration will take up this issue with the government.
He
also said that even the farmers depending on ground water resources for
cultivation were not able to undertake farming activities due to
erratic power supply.
K. Natarajan, Superintending Engineer, intervened and said that this problem would be sorted out soon.
The
Collector also said that an estimate to repair the damaged right main
canal of the KRP dam had been prepared and sent to the government for
approval.
A farmer complained that some teak trees on the campus of the Palm Cola factory in Mathur were missing.
The Collector directed PWD officials to take immediate action in this regard.
Aavin
was operating at a loss of Rs. 87 crore Ramagoundar said and observed
that Dharmapuri District Milk Cooperative Federation (Aavin) is
operating with a loss of Rs. 87 crore as on today. Disbursal of over Rs.
17 crore was pending.
The State Milk Marketing
Federation is earning a profit of Rs. 12 per litre of milk supplied by
Dharmapuri Aavin. But at the same time the Dharmapuri Aavin is suffering
a loss of Rs. 3 per litre.
Over 320 milk marketing
cooperative societies have become dormant, and employees numbering over
1,000 have lost their jobs, he said.
