JVP attempt to mislead the country about the drought situation countered
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- Created on Friday, 20 July 2012 11:39
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Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene told the parliament that the government has taken several measures to provide relief assistance to the farmers who were affected by the recent drought.
The Minister said that the President was very keen to provide whatever the relief that is possible to these farmers and he has instructed the banks todefer the recovery of agricultural loans given to farmers. Also mentioned in addition to this Rs 3665 million has been allocated to provide relief for farmers who lost their crops due to the drought and Rs 6000 will be provided to each family and funds will also be provided to renovate agrarian wells at Rs 1000 per well.
He said that among other relief measures being taken is to supply seed paddy free of charge to the affected farmers to cultivate their lands at the next season.
The Minister also said that the President has appointed a committee comprising the secretaries of the Finance, Agriculture and Agrarian Services Ministries to formulate a compensation payment plan to the farmers. He said about 36,000 hectares of cultivated lands have been damaged by the drought.
The Minister responding to a statement made by DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake (the JVP politburo member) said the MP has attempted to mislead the Parliament and the country by submitting exaggerated figures relating to the drought situation.MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that crops of thousands of farmers in the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kurunegala districts were affected by the lacking of water. (niz)
