Government Of Tamil Nadu

ABSTRACT

Natural Calamities-Drought-Relief Assistance to Coconut farmers affected by drought due to paucity of rains during the South-West and North-East monsoons, 2002-Sanction-Orders-Issued.

REVENUE DEPARTMENT

G.O.Ms.No.44.
Dated 25.1.2003.

Read:-

1. G.O.Ms.No. 500, Revenue(NC.III)Department, dt. 22.11.2002

2. Thiru. Mohan Kanda, Special Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Co-operation), Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi-110 001, D.O. Lr.No. 30-18/2002-DM, dt. 17.12.2002.

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ORDER:-

2. Now the Government of India have released a sum of Rs.36/- Crores from National Calamity Contingency Fund among other things as agriculture input subsidy to coconut farmers whose coconut trees have been affected due to drought based on the "Drought Memorandum" submitted by the State Government.

3. Nearly 11 lakh coconut trees have been fully affected and about 28 lakh trees partly affected in the drought due to the paucity of rains during the southwest and northeast monsoons 2002. The "Revised list of items and norms of expenditure for assistance from the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) and the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF), provide for agriculture input subsidy at Rs. 4000 per hectare where the crop loss was more than 50% and above for perennial crops. Since the average number of coconut trees planted per hectare in Tamil Nadu is 175, the average input subsidy per tree works out to Rs. 22.85. This is less than the cost of a coconut seedling. What has been envisaged as input subsidy in the CRF and NCCF norms is a partial compensation for a temporary loss of production in the case of perennial crops, whereas what is witnessed in Tamil Nadu is a total withering away of the coconut trees which cannot be revived at all. The average cost of uprooting and replanting coconut trees is estimated to cost at least Rs. 400 per tree.

4. This issue was discussed in a meeting attended by the Special Commissioner and Commissioner of Revenue Administration, Agriculture Production Commissioner and Secretary, Agriculture Department, Secretary, Revenue Department, Commissioner of Agriculture and Director of Horticulture on 12-12-2002 and also at the State Level Committee Meeting of the Calamity Relief Fund on 31-12-2002. The State level Committee for Calamity Relief Fund Scheme in its meeting held on 31.12.2002 has recommended that relief may be granted to all the affected coconut farmers at the rate of Rs.150/- per fully affected tree and Rs.50/- per partly affected trees.

5. The Government after careful consideration accept the recommendation of the State level Committee for Calamity Relief Fund Scheme and accord sanction to release a sum of Rs. 30.50/- crores (Rupees thirty crores and fifty lakhs only) from Calamity Relief Fund to grant relief to all coconut farmers at the rate of Rs. 150/- per tree for 11 lakh fully affected coconut trees and at the rate of Rs.50/- per tree for 28 lakh partly affected coconut trees due to drought caused by the failure of South-West and North-East monsoons, 2002.

6. This order supersedes the earlier orders issued in para 5 on pages 4-5 of G.O.Ms. No. 500, Revenue, dt. 22.11.2002.

7. The Government direct that the sanction in para 5 above is subject to the following conditions:-

(i) Rs. 150/- (Rupees One hundred and fifty only) per tree for fully damaged trees where there is no scope for further yield or bearing in future;

(ii) Rs. 50/- (Rupees Fifty only) per tree for partly damaged trees where the trees are not likely to give any yield this year;

(iii) The relief can be limited to the actual number of trees damaged or 175 trees per Hectare whichever is less; and

(iv) All the farmers, small, marginal or big, may be provided relief subject to a maximum of 2 hectares (5 acres).

(v) The actual enumeration of loss and the disbursement of subsidy should be done through Agriculture department;

(vi) The subsidy should be disbursed only through cheque.

8. The expenditure sanctioned in para 5 above shall be debited to a new sub head of account under Demand No.49 as detailed below:-

"2245-Relief on account of natural calamities-01. Drought-800 Other expenditure-1-Non-plan-AD. Assistance to coconut farmers affected by drought-09. Grants-in-aid 01. Grants for current expenditure." (DPC No.2245 01 800 AD 0919).

9. The Special Commissioner and Commissioner of Revenue Administration is the estimating, reconciling and controlling authority for the above new sub head of account. The Pay and Account Officers/Treasury Officers are requested to open the above new sub head of account in the Accounts.

10. The Special Commissioner and Commissioner of Revenue Administration is authorised to draw and disburse the amount to the Commissioner of Agriculture. The Commissioner of Agriculture will disburse the amount as per norms prescribed in para 7 above.

11. Necessary funds will be provided in the RE/FMA 2002-2003. The Special Commissioner and Commissioner of Revenue Administration is requested to send necessary proposals to the Government in Finance (B.Cord/ Revenue)Department for inclusion of the expenditure in para 6 above in the RE/FMA 2002-2003 at the appropriate time.

12. Pending provision of funds in the RE/FMA, 2002-2003, the concerned District Treasury Officers are requested to admit the claim and honour the bills as and when presented if found in order.

13. This order issues with the concurrence of the Finance Department vide its U.O. No. 5085/Revenue/2003, Dated. 25.1.2003 and the Additional sanction ledger No.1175.

(BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR)

N.SUNDARADEVAN,
SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT.

To

The Special Commissioner and Commissioner of Revenue Administration, Chennai-5.
The Commissioner of Agriculture, Chennai-5.
All District Collectors.
All District Treasury Officers.
All Pay and Accounts Officers.
The Accountant General, Chennai-18.
The Accountant General, Chennai-18(By name).
The Accountant General, Chennai-35.
The Accountant General(Audit-I), Chennai-35.

Copy to:

Finance(B-Coord/Revenue/BG.I/BG.II)Department, Chennai-9.
Agriculture Department, Chennai-9.
SF/SC.,

/Forwarded By Order/

SECTION OFFICER.