In a major reprieve to the farmers affected by the unseasonal rains and hailstorm, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday announced to enhance the compensation from Rs5,000 to Rs8,000 per acre for the loss incurred by all the farmers due to the vagaries of the weather.
Presiding over a high level meeting to review the loss of crop due to rains before the current harvesting season, the Chief Minister, while expressing concern over the colossus damage to the wheat crop in nearly 1.20 lac acres across the state till now, has averred that it was the moral duty of the State Government to bail these farmers out of the grave crisis.
He said that the farmers of the State have been ever on the forefront to secure nation’s food security so it was a high time to pay back to these hard working and resilient food growers of the country by extending all possible help. Badal asked the officers to ensure that every affected farmer was given the relief in a time bound manner.
It was decided in the meeting that the State Government would have to bear an expenditure of Rs96 crore for helping the farmers who have lost their crops due aberrations in weather during the months of February, March and even April. It was informed that the wheat crop in over 1,10,452 acre was destroyed during the rains before March 31 whereas farmers had suffered loss over 9857 acres during the rains after April 1 too.
The Chief Minister immediately sanctioned Rs52 crore for disbursing amongst the hapless farmers in this hour of crisis.
likewise, he also asked the officers to ensure that the remaining Rs44 crore was also disbursed to the farmers within a week. Badal reiterated that no stone would be left unturned for ensuring the well being of the farmers facing this acute crisis. He asked the officers to ensure that the compensation was disbursed to the farmers within a week.
Cong protests outside Badal’s residence
Opposition Congress on Thursday held a protest outside CM Parkash Singh Badal’s residence here to highlight the farmers’ issue. Addressing the gathering, ClP leader Sunil Jakhar Jakhar demanded for immediate lifting of wheat from grain markets and release of payment to the farmers.
“The delay in payment to farmers amounts to their harassment,” he said. Majority of the Congress MlAs besides party's state unit chief Pratap Singh Bajwa also participated in the agitation.
Badal met the protesting Congress legislators and listened to the issues raised by them. Congress leader Bajwa had on Wednesday given a call for ‘Rail Roko’ (train blockade) on May 2 for one hour from 12.00 to 1.00 PM against the alleged open loot of farmers in the mandis of the State.On April 28, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi had taken his fight against the contentious land acquisition bill to Punjab.