Chennai, 12 December (H.S.) : Farmers across the Tiruvarur district staged widespread roadblock protests on Thursday, demanding the state government disburse a crop damage compensation of Rs 35,000$ per acre. The farmers, who are part of the larger Delta region, are insisting on fair assessment and adequate relief following extensive losses caused by the Ditwah cyclone and subsequent northeast monsoon rains that lashed the area.

The protest was triggered by the state government's recent announcement of a compensation package of Rs 20,000$ per hectare, which has caused significant unrest. Farmers argue this amount is inadequate, asserting that their actual expenditure for cultivation was at least Rs 35,000$ per acre, and therefore, they require that full amount to offset their losses. They claim that approximately 2 lakh acres of paddy crops have been damaged due to the adverse weather events.

Furthermore, the farmers voiced strong opposition to the digital survey method initiated by officials for damage assessment. They fear the digital process is flawed and will inevitably miss thousands of acres of damaged crops, thereby denying many affected farmers their due benefits.

The protesting groups, which blocked roads in Tiruvarur town, Nannilam, Kudavasal, Valangaiman, Kodaracherri, and Needamangalam, are demanding the withdrawal of the digital survey and the commencement of a thorough survey of every revenue village.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary