Another monsoon death as wall collapses in Thanjavur

A 62-year-old woman died when a rain-soaked group house crumbled near Kumbakonam, as moderate rains continued to lash Thanjavur and Tiruvarur.
Another monsoon death as wall collapses in Thanjavur

THANJAVUR/TIRUVARUR:A 62-year-old woman died when a rain-soaked group house crumbled near Kumbakonam, as moderate rains continued to lash Thanjavur and Tiruvarur.Jagadambal (62), of Tiruppanandal, who was living in the group house built 20 years ago, died on Monday morning when the wall and the roof collapsed.

Tiruvidaimarudur tashildar Rajeswari and Block Development Officer Ramesh Babu visited the spot. Several people complained that over 10 houses in the area were on the verge of collapse.
For the last two days, there have been intermittent showers across these districts. As the intensity of the rain was less farmers started work in many places, including Papanasam and Budalur block. “Farmers have started plucking of Samba nursery for transplantation. Some have begun the work,” said A K R Ravichandar, a farmer from Budalur.

Farmers complained that due to change in weather, pest attack is prevalent in the nurseries.
Farmers in Thanjavur and Papanasam also started transplanting work. Though it has been raining continuously, Thanjavur has so far received less than normal rain. The normal rain till November 6 ought to have been 243.4 mm. This year the rainfall recorded was 210.4 mm, which was 14 per cent less than the normal.In Tiruvarur district, above normal rainfall have been recorded up to November 6. The rainfall so far has been 303 mm, compared with the average of 267 mm, which is 13 per cent more than the normal.

Green houses for those who lost homes
Nagapattinam: Administration would approve green houses for those who lost houses in the downpour, Collector S Suresh Kumar has said. Around 81 huts have been damaged so far. “During our visit to flood-affected areas, we asked owners if they have pattas. If yes, they are eligible to receive D2 lakh under the green house scheme. Those residing in government houses are not eligible to avail of the scheme,” the Collector said. The Collector accompanied minister O S Manian on an inspection of flood relief work in Thalainayar and other areas.

Rains give impetus to sugarcane cultivation
Tiruchy: The onset of monsoon has given fresh impetus to sugarcane cultivation. Farmers had been shifting to paddy, but because current conditions are expected to give a successful year for sugarcane, those who stopped cultivating the crop have gone back to it. Now fields cover 1,331 hectares instead of the earlier 1,000 hectares. Officials state the figure could rise to 3,000 hectares by December. In addition, special seedlings are being prepared on 450 hectares. S Murugesan, a sugarcane farmer from Tiruchy, said, “I was cultivating sugarcane on five acres before switching to paddy. But since this seems to be a good monsoon and there is adequate water from the Cauvery, some of us are growing sugarcane. I am now growing the crop on three acres with two acres of paddy.” The state has been providing D75,000 in subsidies on shade nets to grow seedlings.

25,000 workers in Vedaranyam jobless as salt pans stop production
Nagapattinam: Salt makers in Vedaranyam have stopped production due to transportation issues. Because of the halt, 25,000 workers have been rendered jobless in Vedaranyam. Salt pans in here cover an area of 10,000 acres. Though salt makers start production after February every year and complete it in September, untimely showers in February meant production commenced in March this year. V Senthil, secretary, Small Scale and Marginal Salt Manufacturer’s Association, said, “From March to the first week of October, small-scale salt manufacturers produced about 1.5 lakh tonne of salt over 4,000 acres in Vedaranyam. Large companies operating over 6,000 acres have produced some two lakh tonne. Big companies have the necessary logistics like trucks, godowns and permanent employees to survive but small and marginal producers do not have the same facilities.”

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