PMK founder S. Ramadoss and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss along with party cadre staging a novel agitation in front of the Collectorate in Dharmapuri on Thursday. DHARMAPURI: Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss has urged the government to declare Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem, Namakkal and Vellore districts drought-prone. He told reporters here on Thursday that the government should also provide a monthly assistance of Rs.5,000 to each family in these districts. A sum of Rs.10,000 should be given to each family that had a farm well. Dharmapuri district was reeling under severe drought because of monsoon failure. The situation was at its worst in Pennagaram. The groundwater table had depleted drastically, forcing thousands of people to migrate to neighbouring States and districts in search of employment. Residents of Pennagaram should be given employment for 20 days in a month as a special case, as the threat of a return of food scarcity of 1970s loomed large over the place. Mr. Ramadoss wanted the government to explain the reasons behind the cost escalation in the Hogenakkal Drinking Water and Fluorosis Mitigation Project. It was originally conceived in 1977 at an estimate cost of Rs.576 crore. It remained a mirage as successive governments neglected it, he alleged. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi laid the foundation in 2008. The government had announced that it had floated tenders for four phases and the tenders for the fifth phase were yet to be finalised. In this situation, how did the cost of the project increase to Rs.1928 crore? Mr. Ramadoss criticised the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla for postponing the Pennagram by-election. This, however, would not affect the prospects of the PMK. Later, Mr. Ramadoss joined his cadre in keening a dirge in front of the Collectorate as part of a demonstration on water scarcity. They said the government provided colour televisions when people desperately wanted water. Former Union Minister for Health Anbumani Ramadoss said the PMK would resort to agitation if the government did not announce drought relief to the families in Pennagaram.