Survey on damaged crop ordered

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 20

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kamaldeep Singh Sangha on Friday directed revenue officials to hold survey of villages falling under the Baba Bakala subdivision where crop was damaged by unseasonal showers and hailstorm that has created panic among farmers.

He said wheat in Kammoke, Jamalpur, Kartarpur, Mattewal, Butala, Shahpur, Devidaspura, Tapiala, Sudhar and Bhalaipur villages were reportedly damaged during the hailstorm on Thursday. He said as per the directions of the state government, estimates would be made for providing relief to the affected farmers.

During the initial survey, around 25 per cent of crop on 500 acres was damaged. He ordered the SDMs to submit a report of special girdwari (demarcation) within a week to him.

Meanwhile, former cabinet minister and SAD general secretary Bikram Singh Majithia has urged the government to provide suitable compensation to the farmers affected by unseasonal showers and hailstorm.

He alleged that the Congress government in the state was not taking the problems being faced by the farmers seriously. He said there were no adequate arrangements for procurement of wheat from grain markets. He pointed out that the government agencies, including FCI, Pungrain, Punjab Agro were procuring wheat slowly.