Damage to crops: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann increases compensation to Rs 15,000 per acre
Chandigarh, March 27: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said the government had ordered a special 'girdawari' to assess the loss to crops caused by recent rain and high-velocity winds. He said the process would be finished within a week.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the compensation would also be released to those farmers who had taken land on lease and were cultivating the fields owned by others. The CM said the farm labourers who work on the fields would also get relief for the crop loss.
He assured the farmers that the government would stand with the farmers in their hour of need.
Notably, Bhagwant Mann has also visited the fields, wherein farmers showed the damage caused to their crop. On Monday, he called a meeting of all officials.
Bhagwant Mann said the amount of compensation had been increased by 25 per cent for crop loss. Those suffering a loss of 33 per cent to 75 per cent would get a relief of Rs 6,750 per acre, against Rs 5,400 per acre given from the State Disaster Relief Fund till now.
Those who had suffered a 76 per cent to 100 per cent loss would get Rs 15,000 per acre. Earlier, the amount was Rs 12,000 per acre. He said all deputy commissioners had been asked to get the girdawari done at the earliest, for which an announcement should be duly made by loudspeakers in village gurdwaras.
Notably, heavy damage to crops was reported due to bad weather in North India. Crops of the farmers from many districts in Punjab were destroyed, after which farmers were demanding compensation. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann personally visited the crop fields to assess the damage to crops along with several officials.
Taking it to CMO Punjab Twitter, he said, "The labourers will get 10 per cent as compensation adding that Rs 95,100 will be paid as compensation to full house damage whereas Rs 5,200 will be given for minor damage to houses. The state government will soon introduce a crop insurance scheme for the farmers".
- With inputs from agencies
