MZP lambasts state govt.

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 29: Malda Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Mr Goutam Chakraborty has blamed the state agriculture department for the non-distribution of seeds for the Rabi crop cultivation to the drought-hit farmers of the district. Mr Chakraborty had also written a letter to the chief minister Mr Buddhdeb Bhattacharjee a few days ago regarding this matter. The copy of the letter was also forwarded to the finance minister, Mr Asim Dasgupta. However, the state government has so far not responded to the letter, Mr Charkraborty, said. In the letter, Mr Charkraborty wrote that seeds for the production of local pulses (Kalai) and maize had not been supplied to the Malda farmers despite of the demand placed at a meeting in Kolkata with agriculture officials including the finance minister. He also said that he had requested the finance minister to supply the two popular variety seeds for the drought hit farmers for Rabi crop cultivation, so that the farmers could make up their losses incurred in during the Aman paddy cultivation. It may be noted that more than 1000 mouzas had been identified as drought hit and its estimated loss in paddy and jute production was over Rs 100 crore.#