In a setback to the jute growers of the 11 drought hit districts of West Bengal, the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (WBSEDCL) has turned down a proposal to offer subsidy on power tariff to these farmers.
It may be noted that West Bengal is facing one of its worst droughts in recent years with an overall monsoon deficit of 33 per cent and the Centre has initially sanctioned Rs 1023 crore for the state to combat drought.
The jute crop has been adversely affected because of the drought. Being an intercrop and cultivated between July and September, the drought has thrown its production almost out of gear.