COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 21: Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati Mr Jnanendra Chandra Chanda declared Cooch Behar as drought affected district this afternoon. 

In a press conference held today the CZP sabhadhipati mentioned that out of 1168 mouzas in the district, 1156 are affected in the dry spell. Total loss of aman paddy and jute cultivation in the affected areas is Rs 314.76-crore. The loss in aman paddy is estimated to 369600 metric ton (Rs 295.68-crore) and jute 353496 bales (Rs 19.08-crore). 

The sabhadhipati Mr Chanda said that the state government sanctioned Rs 6-crore for this district to meet the ongoing drought situation. This fund will be utilised in arranging water to extend irrigation facilities, transplantation of paddy saplings and jute retting. Tax will be exempted from irrigation facilities including RLIs and deep tubewells. Power charge from the power operated irrigation systems will also be exempted, he added. 

Different quarters including political parties welcomed the decision to declare Cooch Behar as a drought affected district today. []