Members of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam , Vellore and Katpadi staged a demonstration near the Vellore Taluk office on Monday, urging the Union Ministry of Agriculture and State government to address the grievances of the farmers across the State.

They said that the severity of the drought could be determined by a quick survey of the district.

Addressing the gathering, the District Secretary of All India Kisan Sabha, C.S. Mahalingam, said, “The entire State is in serious distress because of an unprecedented drought,” and urged the BJP government to ensure implementation of the Swaminathan Committee recommendations and announce the State as ‘drought-hit’.

He said that the State government should allow property tax exemption for residents and commercial establishment owners.

“Officials have to wake up and address their grievances at once, otherwise farmers will disappear one by one,” said a farmer from the Banavaram region.

“With mercury levels rising, residents have been struggling owing to scarcity of drinking water. Areas such as Vengapattu, Paranji, Karikkal, Pulivalam, Ayal, Paravathur, Mettu Kunathur, Kodaikkal, Keezh Pudhupettai, Nemili, Panapakkam and Banavaram are severely affected. This does not mean that other areas of the district are spared. Tirupattur, Anaicut, Latheri, Gudiyatham, Ambur, Pernambut and Vaniyambadi are also left without groundwater or any supply from their respective local bodies,” said R.Vikraman from Mathanur.

The farmers have reduced their cultivation due to scarcity of water. Delay in payment has also dissuaded many of them from taking it up again.