Date:11/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/11/stories/2009011156880300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Thanjavur

“Steps to distribute flood relief to all”

Special Correspondent

THANJAVUR: District Collector M. S. Shanmugham has said that in Papanasam taluk, through six primary agricultural cooperative banks (PACBs), flood relief has been given to 990 farmers (whose crops were damaged in the recent rain) to the tune of Rs. 45.06 lakh till Saturday.

There are 1,300 farmers in the taluk who should get flood relief. The Collector advised the officials of the PACBs to disburse relief to the remaining farmers at the earliest. The collector made surprise check at Ayyampettai, Soolamangalam, Kabisthalam and Ganapathy Agraharam PACBs on Saturday. He also inspected the fair price shops in these places.

It has been found at Ayyampettai PACB, out of 91 farmers who have to receive Rs. 5.44 lakh as flood relief, 65 have received till Saturday an amount of Rs. 4.40 lakh. The Collector asked the officials to distribute the relief to other persons also quickly.

At Ayyampettai one and Ayyampettai two fair price shops, free pongal gift bags have been distributed to 1,296 ration card holders against 1,969 ration card holders. He asked the officials to record the distribution of free Pongal gifts in a separate register.

At Soolamangalam PACB, it was found that out of 319 farmers, 286 have received the flood relief. The amount distributed was Rs. 15.11 lakh. Out of 650 ration card holders, Pongal gift bags have been distributed to 530 ration card holders. At Kabisthalam PACB, it was found that out of 424 farmers, and a relief of Rs. 14.36 lakh, 271 farmers have got the relief to the tune of Rs. 10.65 lakh.

At Ganapathy Agraharam PACB out of 195 farmers who have to get a relief of Rs. 6.32 lakh, relief has been given to 138 farmers to the tune of Rs. 5.20 lakh.

The Collector asked the officials to disburse the relief amount before Pongal festival to all the farmers. He said that the PACBs and fair price shops will work on Sunday also to reach the relief and Pongal gifts to people.

K. V. S. Kumar, Joint Registrar of Co-operatives was with the Collector during his visit.