G. Ramakrishnan, State secretary of the CPI (M), on Sunday said crops in delta region required water immediately. So, steps should be taken to get Cauvery water from Karnataka.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the State conference of the party here on Sunday, he said many southern districts including Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and a few central districts like Pudukottai received deficit rainfall during the last monsoon. As a result, many farmers lost their livelihood. Delta farmers suffered crop loss over eight lakh acres due to lack of water.
He said lakhs of farmers, who insured their crops during 2016-17, were yet to get insurance benefits and the State government should take efforts to ensure that all eligible farmers were given the benefits. The government had disappointed over eight lakh farmers, who were made to wait for 10 years to get subsidised pump sets.
Mr. Ramakrishnan said resolutions were passed on the second day of the four-day conference to protect the artefacts unearthed at Keezhadi near Madurai. Though the over 5,000 artefacts unearthed at the site provided useful information, the BJP government Centre denied permission to carry out a total excavation.
Urban culture flourished in Adichanallur in Thoothukudi district where excavations revealed a rich legacy of ancient glory. Archaeological Survey of India started excavation at Adichanallur in 2005, but till now the findings were not fully revealed, he said.
The conference passed resolutions to protect Tamil Nadu fishermen from attacks by Sri Lankan Navy and to uphold the welfare of minorities. Another resolution demanded compensation for victims of Cyclone Ockhi in Tamil Nadu on a par with those in Kerala.
K.S. Arjunan, district secretary, was present.
