As the untimely rain in March led to heavy crop damage to standing crops this year, North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Friday demanded that a compensation of `20,000 per acre should be paid to farmers of Delhi. They have petitioned Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to address the issue of the farmers on priority basis as they have suffered loss due to rain.
NMC chairperson Mohan Prasad Bhardwaj said that the Chief Minister had announced the compensation of `20,000 per acre four months ago not as a favour but as their right. He added that there was no release of compensation amount despite the announcement is like adding salt to their injuries. While sowing has begun for the next season, the survey to assess the loss of rabi crops has not been done by the Delhi Government.
“He said that the farmers were banking on compensation amount for making two ends meet and fulfilling their social responsibilities. However, the Delhi Government has given compensation only to some farmers only for the sake of symbolism,” Bhardwaj said.
Bhardwaj demanded that the Delhi Government must release the compensation at the earliest so that farmers can procure seeds, and fertilisers to prepare themselves for the next season.
“This has happened perhaps for the first time that the Cabinet has overturned the announcement made by its Chief Minister. He said that the Delhi Cabinet reduced the compensation amount to `14,000 per acre as against `20,000 per acre announced by the CM without any condition. This was akin to no-confidence motion and the CM should have been resigned along with this Council of Minister,” Bhardwaj added.