THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The agriculture package of Rs.765 crore sanctioned by the Centre for Kasaragod, Wayanad and Palakkad districts is insufficient, Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said.

Mr. Achuthanandan told presspersons here on Saturday that the State Government had sought Rs. 3,412 crore for Kasaragod, Wayanad, Palakkad, Idukki and Alappuzha districts. The sum sought for Kasaragod, Wayanad and Palakkad was Rs. 2,259 crore. The Government had also sought a subsidy of Rs.1,293 crore and an additional relief of Rs.2,253 crore for other sectors. Unlike in the previous years, the Government had succeeded in securing relief from the Centre, but it was insufficient. He said the Centre had agreed to give a special package for Idukki and Alappuzha districts. A portion of the assistance to be sanctioned by the Centre would be utilised for maintenance of the Thaneermukkam saltwater barrier and outer barriers in Kuttanad. The Government would submit a project to the Centre to secure more assistance for the two districts.

He said 25,000 labourers had been rendered unemployed following lockout in 25 plantations in Idukki. If the Centre sent an official delegation to the State, the process of granting assistance could be expedited.

Though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had expressed his inability in adding more districts to his programme to grant assistance for 31 districts all over the country, he had agreed to consider the demands of the State, Mr. Achuthanandan said.

A package was not the only solution to overcome the crisis. But Mr. Achuthanandan said he would write to the Centre seeking more assistance. The MPs from Kerala too should pressure the Centre for this. The cut in import cess had had a direct bearing on agriculture sector.

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