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Cyclone Gaja: Paltry relief amount for coconut trees riles ryots
The State Government’s decision to offer farmers just Rs 600 per coconut tree lost in the cyclone Gaja, which wreaked havoc in Delta districts, has come under criticism with politicians and farmer representatives claiming the administration was being insensitive towards the concerns of farmers.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
While the cyclone has caused the loss of several lives, farmers have also suffered as trees were uprooted on a large-scale and several thousands of acres of crops were damaged.
Since many coconut trees fell to the strong winds, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday announced a compensation of Rs 600 for an uprooted coconut tree, besides sanctioning another Rs 500 for cutting the tree.
The decision to announce a paltry sum as compensation came at a time when the affected farmers were demanding Rs 50,000 per uprooted tree. Criticising the government’s move, representatives of farmers union have demanded the immediate revision of the compensation amount.
K P Perumal, Treasurer, Tamil Nadu Farmers Union, said the compensation amount should be fixed based on the age of the coconut tree.
Stating that the amount must not be uniform to all the trees, Perumal said: “A coconut tree can live up to 50 years. If a tree is around 5 to 7 years old, it can give returns for around 40 years. For such trees the compensation amount should be greater.”
He also said that there were past instances when the State Government had given a much higher price for coconut trees. “When coconut trees were removed in Erode and Tirupur districts recently to lay high-tension electric towers, Rs 27,000 was given as compensation per tree. Considering prior practices, the government should provide at least Rs 20,000 as compensation per coconut tree,” said Perumal.
PMK leader Ramadoss also weighed in on the issue by stating: “When the State is ready to offer Rs 50,000 to each of the coconut trees that will be uprooted to lay the Chennai-Salem eight lane expressway project, what is preventing it to offer the same amount to the coconut trees lost due to cyclone Gaja to the affected farmers.”
‘Gaja has destroyed our lives along with trees’
“Thousands of coconut trees, which were standing as tall symbol of 30 years’ hard work have all been rendered waste in a few hours by the cyclone. The fallen trees stand testimony to the height of Gaja’s fury,” rued growers in most parts of delta districts.
For Savarimuthu (70), a farmer from Punalvasal near Orathanadu, the entire four-acre coconut grove was the bread and butter for his family. He had raised around 250 coconut trees over a span of 30 years. They used to yield for more than seven times a year and the trees were very healthy and each would bear at least 25 nuts.
However, the Cyclone Gaja had completely destroyed his livelihood. “They were like my children. When I woke up the day after cyclone’s landfall and went to my farm, it was a fatal blow to me as almost all my trees had fallen”, recalls Savarimuthu.
“In fact, it is a twin blow to me -the loss of trees and the big amount that I have to spend on clearing them, he said. R Karunanidhi (65) of Kurichi near Pattukkottai, who also lost around five acre of coconut trees, said all of them were between 20 and 30 years old.
Manivannan (48), another farmer from Peravurani, said that he had lost his 5 acre of coconut trees. “We were leading a decent life with through our coconut trees. Our life has been lost along with the trees,” he lamented.
According to the agri officials, coconut trees were grown in around 38,000 ha in Thanjavur district alone. Among them, coconut trees in 25,000 ha were brought down to the ground. Each hectare, 175 trees were planted. So, more than 40 lakh trees have been uprooted in the district, the officials said.
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