Another 2,200 ponds will be desilited at a cost of Rs.300 crore in the State, Tamil Nadu chief minister, Edapadi Palanisamy said today.

The work on disilting of 1,519 are in progress in various parts of the State to store rainwater and the Government would soon take up work of desilting 2,200 ponds and lakes, for which Rs.300 crore will be released, Palanisamy told reporters at the City Airport.

Similarly, the work is on to desilt the Mettur Dam, in which Cauvery water is stored, by next week, he said.

As far as drought affected farmers, steps are being taken to compensate the losses through banks under crop insurance scheme, he said, adding that efforts are on to pool Rs.6,000 to Rs.7,000 crore for this purpose.

The District Collectors have been asked to verify if any of the farmers have been omitted while distributing compensation for croploss, Palanisamy said.

Talks are continuing with regard to merger of both the factions of AIADMK, he said.