Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday directed the officers concerned to ensure drainage of water from the waterlogged areas at the earliest so that farmers can sow the next crop in time.
Presiding over a review meeting held through video conferencing here, the Chief Minister directed the Deputy Commissioners to complete this work within the stipulated time frame. He also directed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure adequate availability of manure too. Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, JP Dalal were also present in the meeting.
Khattar said if required, adequate arrangements should be made for more pumps so that water could be drained from the fields in time. After drainage, the water should be used for recharging purposes instead of wasting it in the drain, this will also improve the water level, he said.
The Chief Minister also directed the Deputy Commissioners to hold review meetings of departments, corporations, societies and committees regularly within the stipulated time period. He further asked them to send daily reports after doing physical verification of the incidents of stubble burning.
He said electric pumps should be used for drainage. He also further directed the Electricity Department to give connections on a priority basis and ensure a 24-hour power supply so that drainage can be done within the set time frame.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister was apprised that in view of the problems being faced by the farmers in some areas, ‘Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ portal has been opened and farmers can register on this portal till October 17. Khattar directed the DCs that farmers should not face any problem during the procurement of paddy. He also asked them to ensure adequate availability of gunny, lifting and labor etc in the mandis.
The Chief Minister further directed the officers concerned to give the benefit of Bhavantar Yojna for Bajra crop on priority basis to the smallholding farmers. The amount of Bhavantar compensation should be transferred in the accounts of the farmers at the earliest, he added.
SET UP COMMITTEE FOR STUBBLE MANAGEMENT
The Chief Minister on Thursday directed the Deputy Commissioners to set up a committee for the management of paddy crop residue in the State. He said these Committees should be formed at the local level so that they can make proper arrangements for stubble management. He also directed them to make such a scheme so that farmers can get economic benefits for stubble.
On the issue of blockades around the Singhu and Tikri border in Sonipat due to ongoing farmers’ agitation against three central farm laws, the Chief Minister directed the officers to ensure repairing of the link roads around the Singhu and Tikri border at the earliest. He also said the roads damaged due to rain should be repaired at the earliest