Tamil Nadu is bracing for its fourth rain since Wednesday. (FILE)
Chennai:
Crops spanning more than 50,000 hectares have been devastated by heavy rains in Tamil Nadu, which has received 68% more than average rainfall this monsoon season.
The hardest hit districts are Chennai, Villupuram Cuddalore in the north, Kanyakumari and Tuticorin in the south and the plains in Central Tamil Nadu.
More than 2,300 homes have been damaged by heavy rains that have continued since October. Two-thirds of the state is flooded due to rain that peaked with two consecutive waves in the second week of November.
In Nagapattinam district, a farmer named Rasappan had to work harvesting the rice he had raised on a 15 acre leased land.
He told NDTV: “All crops are wasted. All my jewelry is in the bank. If the officials compensate, I can redeem it and do farming again. If no, the land will become barren,” he told NDTV.
The state is bracing for its fourth rain since Wednesday even as its reservoirs are overflowing and water from neighboring states fuels the crisis.
A team from the Center is on a four-day visit to assess the damage as the state has sought 2,600 crore relief.
Madhavan, Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association said: “Cuddalore district is at the end stage of cyclone, flood and tsunami. We should aim for long term solution.
Greater Chennai Corporation, which has been dealing with heavy flooding for the past week, said it was better prepared now. They said last week’s repair works would ensure less flooding in chronic low-lying hotspots.
Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said, “We have implemented alternatives to pump water at chronically flooded hotspots. So we only expect minimal flooding. Besides, over 700 pumps deployed last week have yet to be relocated. The relief camps will be ready too.”
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