Compensation for Mavilaru paddy lands

Uditha Kumarasinghe

COLOMBO: The Government through the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board (AAIB) is now in the process of valuation of farmers' paddy lands destroyed due to the closure of the Mavilaru anicut by the LTTE.

Nearly 8,000 acres of paddy lands belonging to nearly 3,000 farmers were destroyed following the LTTE's recent move to close down the sluice gates of Mavilaru anicut.

AAIB officials are now making valuations on the damage caused to the paddy cultivations of farmers in these affected areas, Agrarian Services and Farmer Community Development Minister S.M.Chandrasena told the Daily News.

According to the Minister, the AAIB has already completed valuation on 3,124 destroyed paddy lands belongs to 1,083 farmers come under the purview of Sri Perakum, Seruwila, Mahaweligama, Udahiru, Dehiwatta, Mahaweli Nadie, Sumedhapura, Ekamuthu and Kawantissa Farmer Organisations.

The AAIB is conducting valuations on affected paddy lands in Thoppur, Eachalampattu, Kiliveddi, Muttur and Mattampodichetai Divisional Secretariat divisions.

Once these valuation activities are completed, the Government has decided to grant compensation upto a maximum of Rs.25,000 for each acre of destroyed paddy lands, the Minister said.

"The AAIB will grant compensation to all affected farmers in Mavilaru, Muttur, Kantale, Serunuwara, Seruwila, Alla and Mahindapura farmer colonies in the Trincomalee district whose paddy cultivations were severely affected as a result of the water blockade," he said.

The AAIB has also decided to grant compensation to farmers who have cultivated their paddy lands without permits or who have not been included in the formal lists, he said.

The Government has also decided to grant further relief to all displaced farmers until they recommence cultivation and to provide facilities to farmers to resume cultivation during the next season, the Minister said.