The Hindu : Government to announce special package for farmers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 22, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Government to announce special package for farmers

By Our Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA, MARCH 21. The Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, has promised to announce a special package for farmers, who have suffered losses in the last six months.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the drought-hit areas of Kuttanad here today, Mr. Antony said the details of the project could not be announced now because of the restrictions imposed by the election commission. He noted that the restrictions had become an impediment in implementing relief measures. ``Amendment of laws are essential to overcome this,'' he said.

The Chief Minister said that consensus among the political parties was needed for changing laws. He said relief measures would be initiated in Kuttanad through the crisis management team formed in the State with the Chief Secretary as its chairman. Mr. Antony said the Government was thinking of allotting more funds for relief activities.

The present drought was more serious in nature, he said. The Government would make arrangements to study the reasons for the recurring crop loss in Kuttanad. The Government had already entrusted the Nabard to prepare a Rs. 200-crore project for the comprehensive development of Kuttanad, Mr. Antony said.

He said the draft project would be subjected to discussions at various levels and necessary amendments would be incorporated before approving it. On the Pamba-Achenkoil-Vaipar link project, Mr. Antony said there was pressure on the State Government to implement the project.

Mr. Antony assured the farmers that the State Government would not succumb to pressures on the issue. ``Not only Kuttanad but the entire Central Travancore would be hit by drought if the project was implemented,'' Mr. Antony said.

The Chief Minister said the Government had received study reports which revealed that the house boats operating through the Vembanad lake was polluting it. The pollution occured from the garbage dumped into the lake from the boats, Mr. Antony said. The Government would take steps to solve the problem, he said.

On a memorandum of cattle farmers of Takazhi, he said the Government would ask experts to find the reasons for the death of cattle in Takazhi.

Mr. Antony started his journey to Kuttanad from Alappuzha at 8 a.m. today. He visited Pallathuruthy, Kainakary, Kavalam, Takazhy and Veeyapuram areas in Kuttanad.

The MLAs, K.C. Venugopal, D. Sugathan, K.C. Joseph and K.K. Shaju, and officials of various departments accompanied the Chief Minister.

At Pallathuruthy, around 10 AISF activists tried to show black flags at the Chief Minister. The police removed them. Though there was no mass protest, the placards criticising the Government was fixed at many places.

The farmers blamed officials of neglect in the issue of intrusion of saline water through Thottappally Spill Way into Kuttanad.

The farmers said the Rs 600-acre allotted to those whose crops were damaged in saline water intrusion was insufficient. At Kainakary, the CPI (M) leaders, M.A. Baby and C.K. Sadasivan, met the Chief Minister and discussed the issue of crop damage with him.

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