With heavy downpour hitting the Capital’s harvest last week, North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) has demanded adequate compensation for farmers. NMC has passed a resolution, urging Delhi Government and the Central Government to ensure relief to the farmers. According to a report, more than 80 per cent crops in the Capital have been spoiled affecting around 5 lakh farmers.
The farmers of nearly 200 villages under three municipal bodies area have suffered losses worth crores due to unseasonal rain in the very beginning of the month. It is estimated that the farmers have incurred a minimum loss of Rs20,000 per hectare. The unseasonal rain not only damaged the full-grown crops but also has put the next crop in danger.
“With heavy rain this week, farmers have suffered loss between Rs20,000 to few lakhs. Since a majority of peasants depend on loans and borrowed money, they are an aggrieved lot,” said MP Bhardwaj, Chairman, Standing Committee of North MCD.
The Chairman informed that the civic body has unanimously passed a resolution demanding adequate compensation for the farming community and has approached the Governments too. “We have written to the State Government to conduct a survey of the loss and arrange compensation accordingly. We have also written to the Centre and Agriculture Ministry to direct the State Government likewise,” said Bhardwaj.
As per reports, untimely rains that lashed several States, including the national Capital, had reportedly damaged standing crops like wheat, mustard and gram. Northern Uttar Pradesh alone witnessed an estimated wheat loss of 15 per cent-20 per cent due to lodging (stem collapse). Mustard crops that were in harvesting stage in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan were also affected.