Give Rs 40,000 per acre relief to farmers hit by rain, hail: Selja

All-India Congress Committee general secretary and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja on Friday said rain and heavy hailstorm in several districts caused a significant damage to wheat, mustard and vegetable crops. She urged the government to conduct a special survey of the affected crops and provide appropriate compensation so that farmers could prepare for the next sowing season.

Selja said the government must seriously address the problems of farmers, as the country’s farmers were already suffering due to its arbitrary policies.

The MP said rainfall occurred in 11 districts of Jind, Hisar, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Rewari, Mahendragarh, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Jhajjar, Panipat and Sonepat.

At many places, the rain started as early as 3 am. During this period, Hisar, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Bhiwani and Kaithal also experienced heavy hailstorm. In Fatehabad, the hailstorm was so severe that it created a thick layer on roads and destroyed the crops were completely. The hailstorm, accompanied by rain and strong winds, damaged the rabi crops. Mustard and wheat were the most affected, and vegetables, such as potatoes, fenugreek, cauliflower, and tomatoes, were also ruined. Selja said in about 70 villages in Hisar, Bhiwani, Fatehabad, Jind and Kaithal, vegetable and mustard crops were damaged by the hailstorm. In Fatehabad, villages like Badopal, Mohammadpur Rohi, and Jhulaniya, among others, faced severe hailstorm.

Selja said nearly 50 villages in Hisar were severely affected by the hailstorm. In areas like Adampur (15 villages), Narnaul (25 villages), and Hansi (six villages), crops were destroyed by hail, with chickpea crops also suffering heavy damage.

She said where the hailstorm occurred, not only the crops were destroyed, but also the wet soil made it impossible to re-sow crops. The weather has dealt a severe blow to the farmers. In this situation, the government should immediately provide compensation of at least Rs 40,000 per acre for the crops damaged by the hailstorm.