Chandigarh: Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring has sought the attention of the Union agriculture minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, for help to the farmers whose crops have been damaged due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms.In a statement, Warring stated that a large part of Punjab, particularly the Malwa belt, was hit by heavy rains and hailstorms, which not only flattened the ripe wheat crop but also destroyed it. He said the extent of damage was such that the crop could not even be used for fodder.Criticising the Punjab govt, Warring said it failed to reach out to the affected farmers. He said the extent of damage and devastation was like what happened during the devastating floods last year.Saying that he did not have much hope from the state govt, the Ludhiana MP disclosed that it did not provide compensation to the majority of people who lost crops and property during the floods.Warring said the standard token announcement by the govt to conduct the girdawari (survey) of the damaged crops would not serve any purpose. He asked what was to be surveyed when the crops over entire fields are lying flattened.The Punjab Congress chief said the girdawari announcements were made just to mislead the victims. He noted that if the state govt’s intentions were clear, it would provide some immediate interim relief to the farmers and not wait for the girdawari reports.The Congress leader said he wrote to the Union agriculture minister and would be meeting him in Delhi after visiting the affected areas.Warring further said he would plead for immediate assistance to the affected farmers as they could not wait for the state govt’s survey.Nobody knows when the state govt survey will be completed and when the compensation will be paid, as past experience is bad and disappointing, he added.MSID:: 130062905 413 |
