Crop damage on 1.25 lakh acres due to inclement weather: Punjab agri minister

Chandigarh, Apr 7 (PTI) Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Tuesday said crops over 1.25 lakh acres are estimated to have been affected by recent rainfall and hailstorms and assured that affected farmers will get compensation for the loss.

He said Fazilka reported crop damage over 45,000 acres of land, followed by 43,000 acres in Muktsar, 20,000 acres in Bathinda and 3,000 acres in Sangrur by inclement weather.

Speaking to reporters in Muktsar, the agriculture minister said there was a huge damage of crops because of adverse weather conditions, adding that the wheat crop was ready for harvest.

He further expressed concerns over the prediction of more rainfall in the state.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday ordered a crop loss

assessment to assess damage caused by inclement weather, asserting that affected farmers will be given compensation.

“We have given orders for ‘girdawari’ and after conducting it, whoever suffered crop damage will be given compensation,” Mann had said.

On Sunday, farmers had demanded compensation for crop damage due to rain and hailstorms in various parts of the state.

Farmers have reported extensive crop damage at various locations, including Amritsar, Bathinda, Muktsar, Fazilka, Tarn Taran due to rainfall and hailstorms.

Opposition parties’ leaders have also been demanding compensation for the loss of crops, including wheat, maize, and vegetables.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa wrote to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, urging him to send a special team to Punjab to assess the damage caused to the standing wheat crop by hailstorms in the state and release a special compensation package to affected farmers.

Punjab Congress President Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, too, sought urgent attention of Chouhan for assistance to affected farmers. PTI CHS TRB