Drought: Kisan Sabha demands Rs 10,000 cr Central package
Kozhikode, Mar 12 : The pro-CPI All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) in Kerala today demanded a Rs 10,000 crore Central package for Kerala facing agrarian crisis due to severe drought situation prevailing in the state.
Talking to reporters here AIKS State Council General Secretary Sathyan Mokeri urged Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to lead a delegation, comprising the Opposition leader and leaders of other political parties, to impress upon the Centre about the precarious situation in the state.
He also wanted the government to adopt a resolution on the issue in the Assembly session beginning on March 15.
According to the Revenue Department, the state had suffered a total loss of Rs 7,795 crore. Out of this, the agriculture sector alone accounted for Rs 3129 crore loss.
Actual loss was much higher than the official figure, he said.
Describing the drought condition a big threat to the state as rivers and other water bodies, such wells and ponds have dried up leading to drinking water scarcity in different parts of the state, he said adding farmers were forced to sell of their livestocks.
Thousands of farmers representing various sectors from the state would march to the State Assembly on March 19 urging the Centre and the state government to consider their demands immediately, he added.