The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Tiruchi News : Revised plantain crop loss put at Rs.10 crores

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 30, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Revised plantain crop loss put at Rs.10 crores

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI, MARCH 29 . The revised estimate of the loss of plantain crop in the gale that struck the district a fortnight back has been arrived at Rs. 10 crore by the district administration.

The crop was found damaged in an area of 1,015 hectares spread over 94 villages in Tiruchi district. Compensation will be provided at the rate of Rs.4,000 per acre if there was over 50 per cent crop damage in a field, the Collector, V. Pandian, told presspersons here today.

The extent of damage was put at Rs. 15 crores in an immediate assessment.

About 12,198 tonnes of paddy had been procured through 24 Direct Procurement Centres in the district. Barring 30 tonnes of common variety, the rest were A grade variety, he said, adding that the DPCs where maximum procurement was reported included Poovalur, Vellanur, Venkatachalapuram, and Alangudi Mahajanam. As a follow-up to the representation made to the Chief Minister, Rs. 17.59 lakhs has been released for establishing an operation theatre in the Valanadu Primary Health Centre (PHC).

A total number of 36 doctors have been appointed on a seniority basis in the various PHCs, the KAP Viswanatham Government Medical College, and the Annal Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital. Likewise, 50 teachers had been appointed on consolidated pay in Adi Dravida schools.

For 1,813 Adi Dravida college students, Rs.1.28 crore had been disbursed as `loan scholarships', and for 65,901 Adi Dravida school students, the scholarships accounted for Rs.10.66 crores. Likewise, for 72,500 students belonging to Backward Caste, Most Backward Caste, and Denotified Communities, Rs.4.74 crores has been disbursed as scholarship.

A sum of Rs. 19.77 lakhs would be utilised towards replacement of old motors and 335 applications have been received, he informed.

To a query, he said there were 33 vacancies in the post of veterinary doctors in sub-centres and efforts have been initiated to fill them.

Responding to a question on the delay in construction of the overbridge at Valadi, the Collector said additional time was required in view of diversion of a canal and that the project was slated for completion by August this year. The Palakkarai Overbridge, he assured, would be constructed in accordance with the estimated time.

He denied that there was scarcity of particular brands of Indian Made Foreign Liquor, and said there were now 217 functioning outlets. Out of the sanctioned 275 outlets, 268 were opened, but 51, which were non-functional now owing to their location, would be shifted to other places in deference to the public requests. The sale has improved since there was no scope for entry of spurious products ever since the TASMAC took over the retail IMFL outlets. Also, cost-wise, there was stability. The district administration would soon make an assessment of the encroachments, complying with the direction of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

Mr. Pandian also assured that the district administration would act in consultation with the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) in removal of shops from the immediate vicinity of the Mainguard Gate, a monument.

He also informed that Rs. 5.09 crores had been given as share from the revenue generated from sand mining to local bodies: nine village panchayats, one special grade village panchayat, and three villages in Corporation limits.

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