Pondy announces relief of Rs 20,000 per hectare for drought hit-ryots

Puducherry: Puducherry government on Sunday announced Rs 20,000 as relief to drought-hit farmers for a hectare of paddy field lost in Karaikal. Chief Minister N Rangasamy told the territorial assembly that with non-availability of water in cauvery system, crops on 4,749 hectares had been hit in Karaikal. The government made a survey of the situation and it had been decided to provide a relief of Rs 20,000 per hectare of paddy field in Karaikal, he said. Rangasamy made the announcement in the Assembly in response to pleas made by ruling AINRC legislator P R Siva, the independent member V M C Sivakumar (both hailing from Karaikal) and by opposition AIADMK legislator A Anbalagan. Earlier the House witnessed noisy scenes with Anbalagan making out a strong case for relief to drought hit farmers. PTI