Haryana crop damage: No Central relief before assessment

CHANDIGARH: The Centre has refused a Rs 500 crore interim compensation to Haryana saying that a central team would determine the extent of damage before the state’s farmers are compensated for the losses incurred by them in the recent rain and hailstorm.

Chandigarh, March 27

The Centre has refused a Rs 500 crore interim compensation to Haryana saying that a central team would determine the extent of damage before the state’s farmers are compensated for the losses incurred by them in the recent rain and hailstorm.

Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar had asked the Centre to extend this relief based on a rough estimate of the damage.

The Chief Minister, who raised the demand again in Delhi today, was told that the Centre was not convinced with the compensation sought by the state.

Rain and hailstorm during the first fortnight of March led to extensive damage to the rabi crop, mainly wheat, forcing the state to order a special 'girdawri'.

Though the report of the 'girdawri' is yet to be completed, the state leadership, including the Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister, conducted aerial surveys to assess crop damage.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi too visited affected villages to express sympathy with the farmers, many of whom have lost their entire crop. The Centre has deputed Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan and Sanjeev Baliyan, Union Minister of State for Agriculture, to visit Haryana on March 30 or 31 and personally assess the damage. Only after they submit their report, the Centre will prepare a special package to compensate the farmers of Haryana. Punjab too has asked for a Rs 700 crore compensation for its farmers which has not been granted by the Centre.

Sources said the CMC lobbied in Delhi for the immediate release of Rs 500 crore, but, at the same time, asked the Union Government to see the damage for itself and extend adequate compensation.

But the central BJP leadership is reported to have told Khattar that a decision on the issue would be taken only after the Centre receives the report of the special 'girdawri' and the inputs from the two central leaders.

Besides the compensation, Khattar also pleaded for enhanced bonus on wheat, special relief for those who have suffered extensive damage to crops, besides lowering of procurement norms to enable farmers to sell their produce easily.