Central team to visit drought-hit WB districts

Kolkata, 7 Sept: A central team will visit the drought-hit districts of West Bengal even as the state government demands more central funds to meet the situation.

The eight-member central team, headed by joint secretary in union agriculture ministry E K Majhi, will arrive here on 8 September, state finance minister Asim Dasgupta said.

They would first meet chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and later visit eight districts in two groups, he said.

The first group will visit West Midnapore, Birbhum, Bankura and Purulia districts, and the second team will move to North 24-Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad and Malda districts.

Dasgupta said the drought situation remained unchanged in 11 affected districts and scattered rains could not improve it any further.

He said the quantum of crop damage, which stood at Rs 954 crore, had jumped to Rs 1,713 crore. "The state government will provide Rs 613 crore," Dasgupta added.

To a question, he said farmers' short-term loan might be converted to long-term ones in consultation with nationalised banks. "Talks will shortly be initiated with state-level bankers' committee," Dasgupta said.
 

(PTI)