Chennai: Providing succour to the farmers of Cuddalore and Villupuram districts hit by cyclone Thane, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Saturday announced a slew of measures, including waiver of land tax.
"Cuddalore and Villpuram will be declared Cyclone affected
districts and land tax will be completely waived for farmers.
Further, as part of the over Rs 440.11 crore pending dues in
Cooperative banks, small-term loans will be converted as
medium-term and medium-term as long-term loans," she said in
the Assembly.
New crop loans would be disbursed and this move would
benefit over 1.10 lakh farmers, she said.
Jayalalithaa announced comprehensive package for farmers of
paddy, coconut, cashew and jackfruit including providing
mini-kits, government assistance in irrigation, supplying
seeds and samplings among others.
While it would take about six months to restore normalcy in
these districts, where the December 30 severe storm claimed
more than 30 lives and caused extensive damage to crops and
properties, her government had acted swiftly and put things
back in about a month, she said.
Lauding the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board employees in
particular, she said they had worked tirelessly to restore
power-related infrastructure that was worst-hit.
On her government's crackdown on land-grabbing, over which
several senior DMK men including former ministers are facing
cases, she said over 4.35 lakh sq ft of land worth Rs 696
crore had been reclaimed and restored to rightful owners.
Countering the opposition for its allegations of
deterioration in law and order, she said her government had
accorded top priority for this.
"For instance, murder for gain has reduced by 19.6 per cent
in 2011 compared to 2010 and more persons had been detained
under Goondas Act after the AIADMK Government came to power
(in May, 2011)," she said.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, February 04, 2012, 18:26