DMK's M Karunanidhi wants central team to recommend substantial relief

CHENNAI: DMK President M Karunanidhi on Thursday appealed to the Central study team currently visiting drought hit parts of Tamil Nadu, to recommend a "substantial amount" by the Centre, to undertake relief works.

"I urge the Central team to recommend a substantial amount to be released to the state government as relief package and to consider the appeal made by the affected farmers", he said in a statement.

He wanted the study team headed by Union Agriculture Ministry official Pravesh Sharma and representatives from Water Resources and Meteorology departments, to consider the demand of the farmers in drought battered areas for grant of Rs 20,000 per acre towards crop losses and Rs 8,400 from National Disaster Response Fund as insurance package.

Karunanidhi said though several parts of the State has been reeling under drought since last year, he was happy to note that the study team has arrived now for on-the-spot assessment of the situation. The drought situation continued to be grim even now, he noted.

Tamil Nadu government had submitted a memorandum to the Centre seeking Rs 19,665 crore as compensation for the losses it suffered due to the drought following the failure of North-East and South-West monsoon.