Crop loss: CM tells officers to oversee relief distribution

PITHORAGARH: Chief Minister Harish Rawat has directed senior officers to ensure proper distribution of relief money to affected farmers in all districts of the state as the Revenue Department has confirmed 55 per cent to 80 per cent of crop losses.

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, April 25

Chief Minister Harish Rawat has directed senior officers to ensure proper distribution of relief money to affected farmers in all districts of the state as the Revenue Department has confirmed 55 per cent to 80 per cent of crop losses.

“The Chief Minister last night instructed all secretaries and other officers to reach allotted districts and ensure proper distribution of compensation money in consultation with the Revenue Department and district magistrates,” said Dr IA Khan, Director of horticulture, who has been assigned Champawat district.

Khan said while the Directors of horticulture and agriculture had been allotted Champawat and Bageshwar districts, respectively, to oversee the proper distribution of relief money, secretary-level officers would take up the work in other districts.

Meanwhile, the Revenue Department in Pithoragarh district has finalised a report on damage to crops from prolonged rain and hailstones this year. It said while rabi crop and fruit crops on over 7,623 hectares had been damaged, orchards on over 2,080 hectares had been affected. “We have estimated a loss to the tune of Rs 66 lakh to agriculture and horticulture produces in the district. The relief money has already been given to subdivisions with an instruction that it be distributed among the affected farmers according to new parameters within three days,” said Shusheel Kumar, District Magistrate, Pithoragarh.

According to the Revenue Department, while 50 per cent to 80 per cent damage to rabi crops in different subdivisions of Pithoragarh district has been estimated, 52 per cent damage to fruit crops has been reported from the entire district. The relief money was distributed in the presence of Urban Development Secretary P Garbiyal, who is in charge of the district for the purpose.

According to reports from Champawat district, the damage to rabi and horticulture crops, besides fruits is estimated at 56.1 per cent for which the state government has approved Rs 30 lakh as compensation. “The compensation money will be distributed in the district before April 30,” said Khan.