Chennai, Jan 1 (NationPress) With the Pongal festival drawing near, farmers in the coastal delta regions of Tamil Nadu are pressing the Stalin government to hasten the disbursement of compensation for crops ravaged by Cyclone Ditwah.

They are calling for the swift publication of beneficiary lists and prompt distribution of relief funds to alleviate the increasing financial burden from significant crop losses.

The cyclone, which hit the area in late November, caused extensive damage to the standing samba and thaladi paddy crops in various districts, especially Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai. The prolonged heavy rains and waterlogging resulted in widespread destruction, leaving numerous farmers in dire straits as the harvest season approaches.

In Nagapattinam, officials estimate that approximately 26,416 farmers qualify for compensation. Crop destruction has been documented over an area of around 38,395 acres, with a relief proposal of Rs 26.41 crore already sent to the government. In a similar vein, Mayiladuthurai district has identified about 22,083 farmers as affected, with losses reported on 38,642 acres.

A proposal for Rs 26.59 crore in compensation has been submitted for approval. Farmers' organizations have pointed out that relief for past crop losses from previous samba and kuruvai seasons is still pending. Additionally, many farmers are awaiting the settlement of crop insurance claims related to cotton and paddy.

The delay in compensation payments has heightened financial strain on farming families, many of whom rely on timely support to prepare their fields for the upcoming planting cycle.

Representatives from the farming community have urged the government to ensure that all outstanding compensation and insurance payments are deposited directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts before Pongal. They emphasized that timely assistance is crucial for farmers to manage debts, cover cultivation costs, and maintain agricultural activities in the delta.

According to the State Disaster Response Fund guidelines, farmers are eligible for an input subsidy of Rs 17,000 per hectare, or Rs 6,880 per acre, for irrigated, horticultural, and annual plantation crops suffering damage exceeding 33 percent, capped at a maximum of two hectares per farmer.

Officials reported that cyclone-induced flooding has inundated about 55,789 acres of crops in Mayiladuthurai and around 81,653 acres in Nagapattinam, underscoring the extent of the devastation and the urgent need for swift relief.