Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 19 2009:
The state government will provide diesel to farmers using diesel-fuelled pump sets that were distributed to farmers to irrigate water against the backdrop of scanty rainfalls this year at subsidised rate.
According to source from the state Agriculture department, Rs 7.50 each of the total cost of diesel will be subsidised by the state and Central government while the rest will be paid by farmers.
Farmers with one hectares (pari) of cultivable land are likely to get Rs 1000 subsidised assistance at an average.
The agriculture department is also said to have written to the planning department for sanctioning Rs 50 lakh in the first phase.
The diesel may be delivered to the farmers as soon as the agriculture department receives the go ahead signal from the planning department.
The decision to provide diesel at subsidy has come close on the heels of the meeting between the Union Agriculture Minister and Chief Secretaries of states affected by drought held on August 8 at the National Capital.
It may be mentioned that 300 diesel-fuelled pump sets have been distributed by the state agriculture department as a part of its measures to tackle the drought-like situation.
The state has been declared drought-hit on June 25 last.
The department has also begun construction work of 200 earthen dams in the state.