THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has dashed off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the severe drought condition prevailing in Kerala urging him to send a Central team to the state to assess the damage. He also sought a financial relief package for the losses incurred in various areas and a moratorium on all agricultural loans availed by farmers.
‘’The prevailing drought situation in Kerala is presumably one of the worst in the last five decades. The entire farming and agrarian activities in the state have been ravaged by the depredation of unfriendly weather conditions. There is an estimated crop loss to the tune of Rs 200 crores. The water level of all the major dams and rivers is alarmingly decreasing. There is sudden depletion of ground water reserves. Water levels have plummeted in domestic and borewells across the state,’’
‘’The state government has declared all the 14 districts drought affected. A special Central team may be dispatched to the state to take stock of the situation. A special package and aid to the state government should be announced,’’ he urged the PM.