Thanjavur, Feb 19 :  The Thanjavur district administration is preparing a list of affected farmers in the district due to non-availability of water for providing relief of Rs.18.39 crore, according to Collector K Baskaran. A press release here today said the relief will be given to farmers who had suffered more than 50 per cent crop loss in the samba season. A sum of Rs.15,000 per acre would be paid to the farmers who suffered more than 50 per cent crop loss in the district.

The crops over 12,249 acres suffered more than 50 per cent damage, he said. The relief will be paid through Thanjavur and Kumbakonam Central Co-Operative Banks and Nationalised and Commercial Banks. The amount will be deposited in the account of farmers, he said. He said he had already asked the Thasildhars to prepare the list of farmers eligible for the relief with their names, address and bank account numbers.

He said the state government has also ordered that 150 days of work under Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) be provided to them. Thirty thousand people who have been provided 132 days of work should be provided additional days of work by the Block Development Officers. The Government has ordered to dig 786 farm ponds in the district under MGNREGS, he said.

- Agencies