Date:24/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/08/24/stories/2004082400821900.htm

Back Central team to check Kerala's crop loss

Our Bureau

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 10-member team deputed by the Centre is expected to arrive here on Tuesday to get a firsthand account of the extent of crop loss suffered during the recent drought.

An official spokesman said that Mr Satish Chander, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, would head the team. The team is scheduled to hold discussions with the State Agriculture Minister, Ms K.R. Gowri, and a team of Government officials led by the Chief Secretary, Mr Babu Jacob, immediately on arrival.

The multi-disciplinary team will seek to know the extent of loss to the cash crops and will go on a visit to Alappuzha, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Palakkad districts.

Other members in the Central team are Mr M.L. Chowdhury, Horticulture Commissioner, Mr Vikram Kapur, Executive Director, Tea Board, Prof A. Damodaran of the Plantation Management Institute, Bangalore, Mr P. Sirajuddin, Joint Secretary, Finance, Mr E. Madhavan, Deputy General Manager, the Reserve Bank of India, Thiruvananthapuram, and Mr Joseph S. Painadan, General Manager, Nabard.