Girdawari still on, farmers await aid

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Tribune News Service

Muktsar, October 3

It has been nearly two-and-a-half-month since rains caused massive floods, but the district administration is yet to assess the total damage to crops and buildings. Notably, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had ordered a special girdawari but the work is yet to finish.

As a result, those who suffered losses are still awaiting financial assistance from the government. Notably, the state gives Rs 12,000 per acre per crop compensation in such cases. Similarly, Rs 95,000 are given against house damage.

Sources in the district administration said the report of the special girdawari was getting delayed due to political pressure. “The politicians always try to give maximum compensation to their supporters, thus trying to twist the figures,” claimed sources.

However, Avtar Singh, District Revenue Officer (DRO), Muktsar, said, “The tehsildars have submitted their reports, which are now to be assessed by the SDMs.”

MK Aravind Kumar, DC, Muktsar, too has asked the officials several times to complete the special girdawari work at the earliest.

As per a preliminary report, 239 houses got partially/ fully damaged in the rain and compensation of Rs 90.52 lakh has to given to those affected. Similarly, 21 head of cattle died in the rain and compensation of Rs 1.28 lakh is to be given against it.

The exact assessment of inundated fields is yet to be made. The rains in July had caused losses in 59 villages and inundated over 25,000 acres agricultural land, as per a preliminary report.