TN Govt hikes assistance for damaged paddy

Chennai, Mar 26 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government today increased the assistance for paddy crop, damaged in the recent floods, from Rs 4,000 per hectare to Rs 7,500 per hectare.

Replying to a special calling-attention motion tabled by various political parties in the state Assembly, Local Administration Minister M K Stalin said this followed requests from farmers, seeking enhanced assistance for the damaged crops.

Sharing the Government's grievance with the farmers affected by floods, he said though the Centre had fixed the amount at Rs 4,000 per hectare, the state Government had decided to hike it to Rs 7,500 per hectare, which worked out to Rs 3,000 per acre.

Mr Stalin announced that the ceiling restricting the assistance to two hectares had also been removed.

''If the damage to crops had been caused in more than two hectares, assistance of Rs 7,500 per hectare of paddy crop will be given,'' he said, adding that the State Government would bear the additional expenditure.

The Minister said in respect of other crops, if the damage to agricultural and horticultural crops was more than 50 per cent, the Government would provide a compensation of Rs 2,000 per hectare and Rs 4,000 per hectare for crops damaged in irrigation areas.

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