Mavilaru farmer compensation finalised

Irangika Range

COLOMBO: The Government has finalised arrangements to pay compensation to farmers whose paddy lands were destroyed by the closure of the Mavilaru anicut.

The LTTE laid seige on the Mavilaru sluice gates for 21 days before it was secured by troops.

The compensation scheme ordered by President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be implemented under the supervision of the Agrarian Services and Farmer Community Development Minister S.M. Chandrasena.

According to the estimate arrived at the by the Agriculture and Agrarian Insurance Board (AAIB) the total loss amounts to Rs.150 million. AAIB Chairman Namal Ratnayaka told the Daily News that compensation will be paid as soon as the Steering Committee report is finalised. He said each farmer will be entitled to Rs.25,000 per acre of damaged paddy land.

He said that an assessment team comprising 100 field officers of the AAIB, representatives of agrarian associations, agrarian extension officers and Samurdhi officers in the relevant areas have concluded their inspections and assessed the total loss of damaged paddy fields. Altogether, 7,477 acres of paddy lands were destroyed by the forced water blockade with 1,083 acres alone affected in the Serunuwara area.

According to the assessment between 80 per cent to 100 per cent of paddy fields in Mavilaru have been destroyed including six agrarian areas of Thoppur, Ichchalampattu, Kilivetti, Muttur, Muttampodiwettai and Serunuwara. The AAIB Chairman said 2,487 farmers were adversely affected by the Mavilaru crisis.