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Survey on
tsunami-hit cultivated lands in Ampara |
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The
Agriculture, Lands and Irrigation Ministry is conducting a
survey on cultivated lands in Ampara district destroyed by
the tsunami catastrophe.
This survey will be conducted with the complete backing of
the Agrarian Services Department and the Agriculture
Department.
Agriculture, Lands and Irrigation Deputy Minister Bimal
Ratnayake who is engaged in relief activities in Ampara
district has already educated the relevant officials in this
regard, a Ministry spokesman told the Daily News.
The Ministry will seek the assistance of the Bathalagoda
Paddy Research and Development Centre to conduct this
survey. This survey which commenced at grama niladari level
on January 19 is scheduled to be completed on January 26.
The final report of the survey will be handed over to the
Agriculture Minister on January 28, he said.
Minister Dissanayake has also decided to submit a Cabinet
paper requesting the Government to write off the loans
obtained by farmers to cultivate these lands.
Attention has also been focused on granting compensation for
lands destroyed by this natural calamity. In addition, the
Government will give priority to purchase paddy at this
forthcoming Maha season by offering a higher price to
farmers for their paddy
According to information received so far, a large number of
lands in Ampara district which had been cultivated with
paddy, vegetable, red onion and peanuts have been completely
destroyed by this sudden disaster.
The Minister has appointed four committees which also
include the Survey Department officers to look into
Government owned vacant lands in Ampara district to be
distributed among the families displaced in the district.
These committees have been appointed covering Kalmunai,
Akkaraipaththu, Tirukkovil and Pottuvil areas, he said. |
           
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