clearing of uprooted trees becomes difficult

Srikakulam: Post Titli cyclone blues are continuously haunting the farmers in mandals of Srikakulam district. Removal of fallen and uprooted coconut, mango, cashew and other trees became tough in the affected areas.

The state government is planning to provide Rs 240 for each coconut, Rs 300 for mango, cashew and Rs 180 for other trees to farmers under the Central government sponsored Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). 

District water resources management agency (DWMA) is the nodal agency for implementation of MGNREGS. DWMA staff is calculating fallen and uprooted trees in all affected areas by applying geotagging technique.  Affected farmer need to engage labour for removal of trees in his field and based on number of trees, the government will pay amount to farmers directly under the MGNREGS.

As per enumeration of officials, in total 10 lakh trees were uprooted in all 12 mandals due to Titli. For removal of trees from the field, 385 power cutting machines supplied to farmers and DWMA, fire and NDRF staff are supervising the activity.

“For cutting and removal of trees with roots, Rs 240 for each tree is not sufficient,” coconut farmers, Gondyala Ramamurthy of Bejjiputtuga and Yenni Dhanunjaya of Chandiputtuga villages in Kaviti mandal told The Hans India. 

“Removal of mango tree with roots will require more labour and Rs 300 is not sufficient,” mango farmer, Savara Narayana Rao of Lotturu village in Palasa mandal said. Cashew farmers, Seepana Venkata Ramana of Bhyripuram, Borra AppalaRaju of Bejjiputtuga opined the same that Rs 300 is not enough for removal of damaged cashew trees. 

“Removal of fallen, damaged and uprooted trees require more time as it needs more work and we are going to get more power cutting machines,” said DWMA project director Hanumanthu Kumar.