Chhattisgarh Assembly on Tuesday witnessed uproarious scenes over an issue of compensation to drought-hit farmers in the State.
Moreover, expressing dissatisfaction with the reply of Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal, Congress members staged a walkout from the House.
Raising the compensation issue during question hour, Congress member
Dhanendra Sahu sought information about number of farmers and districts covered under crop insurance scheme in Kharif season 2016. Moreover, he also sought details about amount deposited by farmers and the government as premium of crop insurance. Answering the question raised by Congress member, Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal said that 2176 hectares of land was insured and premium was charged at the rate of Rs 1000 per acre. Farmers have paid 70 percent of the premium and 20 percent was paid by the State government whereas remaining five percent was paid by the Central government.
Disbursement of around Rs 500 crore is pending to farmers against the crop damage and it would be paid in coming two months.
Responding to the question asked by Congress member Dhanendra Sahu that how the government has assessed the total crop damage, Agrawal said that compensation is being provided for irrigated and non-irrigated land of farmers as drought relief measures under the provisions of Revenue Circular Book (6-4).
Expressing dissatisfaction with the reply of the minister, Sahu questioned that without undertaking physical assessment of crop damage, how Patwaris have compiled survey report and submitted it.
On this, the Minister replied that the State government has considered farmer as a unit for crop loss under modified Revenue Circular Book (6-4). If any farmer has not been compensated for his crop damage, he can apply to the respective district collector by March 31.
Continuing attack on the ruling party, Congress member Bhupesh Baghel said that the Centre has allocated Rs 1200 crore for drought relief measures but only Rs 450 crore has been distributed in the State.
Meanwhile, Baghel detailed about the remaining amount and alleged that Chhattisgarh government is deliberately not releasing the actual report of drought survey.
Dissatisfied with the reply of the Minister, Congress members started shouting slogans in the House and staged walkout.