CHENNAI:PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss has blamed the State government for failing to prepare for paddy procurement in the Cauvery Delta districts.

Despite the pleas of farmers, the government is slow to procure harvested paddy, he alleged. Their hard labour is going to waste as the paddy stock is left in the rain, he said.

He claimed that, though 6.5 lakh acres were cultivated with kuruvai crops this year, only 5.66 lakh tonnes —only half of the harvested crop —have been procured so far. With limited storage facilities and poor logistical planning, lakhs of sacks remain in the open, leading to extensive damage from rain, he added.

He demanded that the State government expedite procurement and provide compensation for the 2 lakh acres of flood-affected crops.