Relief package for farmers likely

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Wednesday announced that the government was working out a relief package for the drought-hit farmers in Puducherry and Karaikal.

In a statement, he said that the failure of the monsoon had hit the farmers who had raised paddy. Paddy on 4,400 hectares in Karaikal and various crops on nearly 8,900 hectares in Puducherry was completely damaged. The government has proposed to declare Puducherry and Karaikal as drought-hit.

The Government has also planned to waive the Land Tax of farmers. It would ensure a Central team visited the UT and efforts would be taken to avail compensation from the Centre, he added.