Farmers To Get Seeds, Fertilizers Worth . 1500 Free

Gandhinagar:As a sop to farmers hit by water scarcity across the state, the Gujarat government has implemented a new scheme to encourage cultivation of fodder. Under the scheme, the government is providing fodder seeds and fertilizers up to Rs 1,500 free of cost. Officials told TOI that the scheme is being extended to farmers who plan to plant fodder crops on their land covering an area half an acre to two acres.

The issue, which has been raised with the union shipping ministry in the past, is likely to be raised at the next meeting of the Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) scheduled to be held in September.

“We deposit about Rs 5 crore per annum with the Central government as the oil pollution cess. We should be getting back some portion of it. Having already spent Rs 50 lakh for maintaining an agency, we require money for combating oil pollution in future also. Where is the money going tocomefrom?” said the official.