Stating that twelve districts of the State are adversely affected due to rain and flood, the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday said that the Government has set a compensation rate of Rs 15,000 per acre for crops damaged in the recent downpour in the State.
Addressing a news conference here, Khattar said that crops have also been damaged due to floods, but the assessment of damage will be done after the month of July because sowing of some crops can be done again till July 31. “The areas where water will not recede will be considered separately, but we have already made provision for compensation at the rate of Rs 15,000 per acre for 100 percent loss. Some financial aid also comes from the Center. Not much damage has been reported for the sugarcane crop, wherever there is still water logging, it will recede,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that vegetables and cotton-growing farmers have suffered the maximum loss. Besides this, maize, pulses, fodder etc have also been damaged. The total damage including these crops has been reported in an area of 18,000 acres. The information about this loss will be entered by the farmers on the e-Kshatipurti portal, after that the team will survey it and as per the approval of the committee, compensation will be given. This portal will remain open for one month from the date of opening, Khattar added.
Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was received in most parts of Haryana as well as in the neighbouring States for three consecutive days from July 8 to 10 that has triggered flood-like situation in the State, throwing normal life out of gear and causing unfortunate loss of lives, animals and extensive damage to properties and infrastructure. As Himachal Pradesh faced the fury of the monsoons most, Haryana has decided to contribute an amount of Rs 5 crores to Himachal CM relief fund as flood relief, Khattar said
He said that from July 8 to 12, the state received 110 mm of rainfall, which is 387 percent of the normal of 28.4 mm. The normal rainfall in Yamunanagar was 32.8 mm, 32.9 mm in Kurukshetra, 53 mm in Panchkula and 58.5 mm in Ambala, while this time these four districts received 842, 814, 699 and 514 percent of normal rainfall respectively. “As a result, almost all rivers in Haryana namely Yamuna, Markanda, Tangari, Ghaggar, and Saraswati. Besides this, all drains have remained in full spate. There were breaches and overflows at many places leading to flooding of fields, roads and habitations causing loss of lives and damage to properties that necessitated immediate rescue and still ongoing relief and recovery efforts,” said Khattar.
The Chief Minister further shared that 12 districts were declared flood-affected. Sharing the data regarding the same, he said that 1353 villages and 4 MC areas in 12 districts namely Ambala, Fatehabad, Faridabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal, Panchkula, Panipat, Palwal, Sonipat, Sirsa and Yamunanagar have been declared as flood affected in the State.
Khattar said that around 6629 persons have been evacuated. 41 relief camps have been organised and 1774 persons are currently housed in these camps. Food and other civil supplies arrangements have been made for the public residing in marooned areas. Army, Airforce, NDRF and SDRF, Civil Society organisations, and NGOs have assisted tirelessly, the district administrations in search, rescue and relief operations.
35 DEATHS REPORTED SO FAR
Khattar said 35 deaths have been reported so far and compensation to the families of these deceased people will be given as per the provisions. “For loss of human lives a compensation of Rs 4 lakhs will be given, while in case of loss of limbs, the compensation will be Rs 74,000 per person when the disability is between 40 and 60 percent. An amount of Rs 2,50,000 per person, when the disability is more than 60 percent. The Chief Minister said that 125 houses were fully damaged whereas 615 houses have been reported as partially damaged,” he added. Khattar said that the livestock also got affected in this flood. Taking care of the livestock owners the State government has decided to give a compensation of Rs 37, 500 in case of Buffalo/Cow/Camel/Yak/ Mithun etc, Rs 4,000 in case of Sheep/ Goat/Pig, Rs 32,000 in case of Camel /Horse/Bullock etc., Rs 20, 000 in case of Calf/ Donkey/ Pony/Mule/ Heifers, and Rs 100 per bird for poultry.
MINING HAS NO CONNECTION WITH FLOOD
Refuting the allegations levied by the Opposition alleging that the flood situation in the state has been caused due to increasing mining in the rivers, the Chief Minister said that such statements are illogical to make as flood and mining have no connection. He said that legal mining in riverbeds as per the mining plan can rather have the potential of increasing the water intake capacity of rivers and rather help in preventing floods in low-lying areas, as excess built-up of silt is removed in the mining process.
Khattar also suggested that excess slit should be removed by way of mining and otherwise from canals as well so that their water capacity in canal beds can also increase. During the Flood Control Board meeting held in January, an amount of Rs. 930 crore has been already approved for tackling flood relief works. Khattar said the proposal to construct a dam 500 meters behind the Hathnikund Barrage is being taken up with the Himachal government. He said that due to floods caused by excessive rains, there has been a loss of approximately Rs 500 crore as per the initial estimate in the state out of which about Rs 281 crore has been received from the Central Government as disaster relief amount. Apart from this, an additional amount will be demanded from the Central Government for flood relief.