Fishing Villages Remain Flooded

VILLUPURAM: Even though the rains came to a stop since Monday, residents of group houses in a fishing village near Marakanam were still suffering as floodwater in the area has not receded yet.

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have been receiving incessant rains owing to depressions in the Bay of Bengal. The heavy downpour marooned pockets of Ekkiyarkuppam fishing village, where people were staying in group houses.

Many of the residents moved to their relative’s houses after water entered the houses. However, others were left with no choice but to live in the marooned houses.“Over 20 houses collapsed in the rains last year. Most of the houses were in poor condition. We’ve been using plastic sheets to cover the concrete roofs. Though some residents evacuated, we have been staying here all the while,” said Arjunan of Ekkiyarkuppam.

“We have been demanding new houses, but no action was taken. Even the officials, who visited the village after the rains, did not say anything about the problem. As the sea was rough, we did not go for fishing. Most of us are struggling for food. We expect the district administration to provide relief soon,” he added.

Cassava Destroyed

Cassava crops in more than 200 acres, which were to be harvested in two weeks, were  destroyed in the rains.

According to sources, cassava was cultivated in 500 acres of land in Puthupakkam, Kandhadu, Vandipalayam, Kottikuppam and Nadukkuppam villages near Marakanam.  Cassava was the main crop cultivated by farmers in the area. The farmers had suffered losses owing to lack of rain in the previous years. But this year, heavy rains which lashed the district led to inundation of farmland.  “We tried hard to clear the water from the farms, but failed as the rains did not stop for a whole week. Once the rains stopped on Monday, we tried to clear water from the farms, but by then the crops were destroyed,” said a farmer from Puthupakkam.

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