Thanjavur: A three-member central team, led by Vasudha Mishra, Managing Director, National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), inspected the agricultural fields in various places in the Delta districts to assess the extent of damage caused to crops due to monsoon failure and drought. The team also heard the grievances of farmers.

On a one-day whirlwind tour, the team arrived in Thanjavur today and visited the fields at Kovilpathu, Pudupattinam, Mela Ulur and Sokkanaavur to assess the damage to the crops.

Dr. Dinanath, Adviser, Ministry of Finance and Sumit Kumar, Deputy Director, Ministry of Power, were part of the central team. Dr. K. Satya Gopal, Principal Secretary to Government and Commissioner of Revenue Administration and Collector A. Annadurai accompanied them.

The farmers informed the team that their paddy crops were damaged due to monsoon failure and non availability of water for irrigation. Their livelihood was very much affected, farmers said.

They also demanded that all the loans availed by them from cooperative and the nationalised banks be waived. They also urged the team to recommend to the Central Government to sanction the relief amount sought by the State Government. “The village which once looked green is now looking like a desert,” the farmers said.

Later, the central team visited and inspected the agricultural fields at Peruga Vazhnthan, Vadakaadu, Kovilur and Bamani villages in Tiruvarur district and later left for Nagapattinam district.