Actual loss suffered by farmers is much higher, says K.P. Rajendran The State Government is making preparations to submit a summer rain damage account of around Rs. 222 crore, prepared as per Central Relief Norms, to the Union Government-deputed team that will reach Kerala on April 3. Revenue Minister K. P. Rajendran said damage statistics from Wayanad and Idukki, where pepper and mango cultivation had suffered huge destruction, would be added to this figure. A preliminary report would be sent to New Delhi immediately while the final figures for the relief amount would be submitted when the Central team arrives. Mr. Rajendran, addressing a press conference here on Monday after visiting the residence of Pushkaran, a paddy farmer who committed suicide here last week, said the actual loss figures, however, would be at least four times the Rs. 222 crore-account. "The loss suffered by mango farmers, whose entire yield has been damaged in Idukki and Wayanad, the actual damage suffered by farmers of crops other than paddy and the yield that could have been possible had the rains not struck, will all take the figure much higher than what is available as per the Centre's relief norms. So, we will present two reports, one as per the norms, and the other, detailing the actual loss,' he said. The loss to paddy farmers in Kuttanad, the Thrissur kole fields and places in other districts, as per Central relief norms, would be around Rs. 93 crore while that suffered by pepper farmers would be at least Rs. 115 crore, the Minister said. The State, which had requested an advance allocation of Rs. 150 crore, had also requested relaxation of the Centre's relief norms, which at present allowed only a paltry amount as relief, he said, adding that the Union Government had also been asked to expedite the process and to provide the relief amount in cash at the earliest. The three-member Central team, which would meet Sta- te officials in Ernakulam on April 3, would begin the assessment from Kuttanad the next day. After touring Kuttanad till noon, the team would head to Upper Kuttanad, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta the same day. On April 4, the team is expected to visit Thrissur and Malappuram before holding a meeting with ministers and officials.