Summary:
| Photo Credit: G_KARTHIKEYANmore-inStanding crops in 42,943 acres were affected owing to acute drought and failure of monsoon. Forest Minister C.
Srinivasan and district drought monitoring officer Karthik inspecting drought affected agri fields in Venkatachalapuram near Andipatti in Theni district on Saturday. A total of 20,271 acres of major rainfed crops including 8,063 acres of maize, 3,369 acres of sorghum, 1,238 of red gram (Toor), 4,014 acres of black gram 1,384 acres of green gram, 1,860 acres of horse gram and 7,000 acres of oil seeds and other crops, he added. Collector N.
Venkatachalam said that paddy crop was raised in 2,761 acres out of total 14,707 acres of which 261 acres were affected. Talking to press persons after inspecting withered crops in the district here on Saturday, he said that drought was acute and crop damage very high..