Rs 350 crore allocated as relief for lost crops

“Out of Rs 350 crore for the damaged crops, Rs 250 crore will be allotted as subsidy for crop damage suffered by small and marginal farmers, irrespective of the affected acreage and for compensation to other farmers shall be limited to two hectares,” the GO stated.

Cyclone Gaja wreaked havoc in delta and interior districts, after it made a landfall on November 16. Nearly, 46 persons died and properties, including houses, electric poles, trees and crops worth several crores of rupees, were damaged in the cyclone.

After a preliminary study and a review meeting attended by cabinet members and officials, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced Rs 1,000 crore as relief for the cyclone affected areas. The Rs 1,000 crore fund was allotted from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).

According to the GO, agriculture department had got the lion’s share of Rs 350 crore, which was 33 percentage of the total allocation. The Rs 350 crore package to the agriculture department, includes Rs 100 crore for damaged crops covered under horticulture department.

Next to agriculture department, the largest funding was for general relief, which included the compensation amount given to the family of the deceased in the cyclone, to those injured, for death of cattle heads, loss of clothing and utensils. Properties such as clothing, utensils and livelihood requirement worth Rs 8,800 would be given to families accommodated in camps, to whose lost their houses in the cyclone and to fishermen families who lost their catamaran, vallam and other things.

Tangedco, which suffered extensive damage, was allotted Rs 200 crore, even though the agency claimed that the loss had already crossed Rs 1,000 crore. State government had also allotted Rs 100 crore for damaged houses.

Other departments such as highways, fisheries, PWD, TWAD, Directorate of Town Panchayat, Directorate of Rural Development and Commissionerate of Municipal Administration apart from the affected districts were also allotted apart from the Rs 1,000 crore fund.