Farmers bury themselves neckdeep for enhanced cyclone relief

: A group of farmers buried themselves neckdeep in the Cauvery riverbed here Friday in protest against 'inadequate relief' in the wake of the damage caused by the cyclone.

The farmers, all members of the South Indian River-linkingFarmers Association, told reporters that the compensation given by the Tamil Nadu government was lower than that given for the farmland acquired for the Chennai-Salem eight-lane project.

The association state president Ayyakkanu said most of the ryots have lost their livelihood as the cyclone had wrought havoc on their crop and plantations. Hence, the demand for enhanced compensation, he said.