BHUBANESWAR, DEC 27: The Maharashtra government has initiated a number of relief and rehabilitation measures, particularly to augment supply of drinking water and assist in agricultural activities in the cyclone-hit Jagatsinghpur district on Orissa.As part of their second phase of Operation Maharashtra, which decided to assist the district for ensuring its all round development, has started supply of 70 quintals of vegetable seeds to the district administration for distribution among farmers, according to a government release here on Monday.to ensure adequate supply of drinking water in the cyclone ravaged areas, the State administration had undertaken repair of 2,54l tube wells through its Ground Water Survey and Development Authority (GSDA).The GSDA team had also installed 55 tube wells and 46 wells and in consultation with the State's Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) wing, it contemplated to set up 100 new hand pumps shortly, the release said.The State Government, following a discussionbetween the secretary, cooperation and textile, Maharashtra, U C Sarangi and Orissa agriculture secretary, had decided to supply vegetable seeds worth over Rs 60 lakh on war footing. The Maharashtra State Seeds Corporation, Akola, had already started sending the seeds to Jagatsinghpur, it said.The supply of seeds comprised mainly those of brinjal, drum gourd, water melon, ladies finger, etc. which would be provided to the farmers free of cost.To facilitate distribution of the seeds, which were being packed in packets of various sizes and weight, the State government had sought help of the district administration, the release said.About 80,000 farmers, each having half an acre of vegetable land, were expected to benefit by the supply of the seeds, it said.The other relief programmes in the pipeline included construction of 100 multi-purpose cyclone shelters, about 80 schools/colleges, an orphanage, a model village comprising 1,000 dwelling units and six godowns to provide storage facility foragricultural produce.Also, the State was also planning to supply gypsum for desalination of the agricultural land, supply of paddy seeds, high variety fodder seeds and coconut sapling as part of its assistance plan, the release said.
