The Hindu : Drought announcement will hit panchayats: CM

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 18, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Drought announcement will hit panchayats: CM

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Sept. 17 . The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, has explained why the Government has not declared any of the districts `drought-hit'.

"We have not formally declared any district drought-hit for the reason that once drought is declared, in addition to remission of land revenue to the tune of Rs. 6 crores, panchayat bodies will be deprived of local cess to the tune of Rs. 5.74 crores and a local cess surcharge of Rs. 29.15 crores, entailing a total loss of Rs. 40.89 crores. Keeping in mind the hardship which will be caused to the already fund-starved panchayats, we have deliberately refrained from declaring the districts drought-affected," she noted in a statement.

Replying to the Union Minister and MDMK leader, Gingee Ramachandran's remarks that the Centre could not provide assistance as the State Government had not declared any district `drought- hit', the Chief Minister said, "It is during the southwest monsoon period that Tamil Nadu gets around 33 per cent of its annual rainfall and the monsoon is not yet over. During the northeast monsoon, nearly 50 per cent of the annual rainfall is received in Tamil Nadu.

Historically, drought declaration has been done only after watching both the monsoons — only after December.''

Ms. Jayalalithaa elaborated on the various steps taken by her Government to provide relief to farmers and drinking water to the people.

She also noted that Tamil Nadu had sought an assistance of Rs. 720 crores from the Centre.

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