Chennai: Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Monday requested the central team to tour the state extensively and see for themselves the severity of the situation and then ascertain the extent of losses.
Of 16,682 revenue villages in the state, 13,305 villages have been identified as drought affected. In 87 per cent of the area, the extent of damage is estimated to be more than 50 per cent. The drought is ‘severe’ in majority of villages.
The situation is likely to worsen in the ensuing months,” the chief minister informed the inter-ministerial central team that called on him for assessment of drought.
A statement from the secretariat said the chief minister pointed out that TN usually relies on northeast monsoon during the months of October to December for its annual rainfall.
The state received only 168.3 mm of rainfall during this monsoon, as against the normal rainfall of 440.4 mm, a deficit of 62 per cent. He also noted that the state received a deficit of 20 per cent rainfall during the southwest monsoon.
All 32 districts received deficit rainfall and the deficit ranges from 35 to 81 per cent.
Further, the drought situation worsened by the non-release of Cauvery water by Karnataka in accordance with the Tribunal order, however drinking water supply and provision of fodder to live stock were intensified in the drought hit areas as part of state relief measures, Panneerselvam briefed the central team led by Vasudha Mishra, managing director, National Co-operative Development Corporation, Union ministry of agriculture.
He also emphasized that the team should also keep in view the fact that the state was badly affected by Vardah cyclone in last December forcing the state to take up immediate at a cost of Rs 510 crore.
In her response, Ms Mishra assured that the central team would extensively tour and submit their assessment report at the earliest. The central team had split into four groups and left for the drought hit districts, the release said adding that the central team return to Chennai on Wednesday.
