14 lakh acre farmland lost, yet no flood tag: Hooda

Slamming the incumbent regime for allegedly failing to provide relief to people of flood-ravaged Haryana, Congress leader and a former CM, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today said that "It seems like that there is no government ruling in Haryana".

Addressing the media, he said the compensation announced by the BJP government was “woefully inadequate” compared to the damage suffered by farmers and ordinary families. Calling the relief package a “drop in the ocean”, he demanded farmers be given Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 per acre against the current payout of just Rs 7,000 to Rs 15,000.

“The standing crops have been destroyed. Farmers have lost nearly Rs 1 lakh per acre. With no hope of the next crop either, they are staring at the loss of two full seasons. Despite this, the government has announced compensation that doesn’t even match the price of fertilisers. This is a mockery,” said Hooda.

He pointed out that nearly 14 lakh acres of farmland lay ruined, while thousands of houses had developed cracks and countless shops and establishments were damaged. “People have suffered massive financial losses, yet the state has not even declared Haryana a flood-affected state. Over 5,200 villages are affected, but the government has failed to demand a special package from the Centre,” he claimed.

“They rely on portals to delay help. A government that can file cases against farmers for stubble burning through satellite images is refusing to act when floods and disease have left people devastated. The portal has become an excuse to shirk responsibility,” he alleged.

State Congress president Udai Bhan also slammed the ruling dispensation for “criminal negligence” in handling the crisis.