Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said that he has ordered a special girdawari (farm inspection) to assess the crop damage caused by the recent rains in the state.
Mann directed the officials to complete the work within a week. He said that there is no dearth of funds to compensate for crop loss.
The chief minister had on Sunday visited the rain-affected areas of Moga, Muktsar, Bathinda and Patiala districts of the state. Unseasonal rains coupled with hailstorm and strong winds have damaged wheat and other crops in many parts of the state.
In a video message on Monday, Mann said, “In the last few days, rain, hailstorm and strong winds have caused extensive damage to crops at many places in Punjab.”
There has also been some damage to houses, he added. The chief minister said he met the affected farmers and observed that crops, especially wheat, had been damaged in the villages of Moga, Muktsar, Bathinda and Patiala.
He said that the standing crop of wheat has been destroyed at many places. He said that the farmers whose crops were damaged due to bad weather would be given compensation. He said that in case of 75 to 100 percent crop damage, compensation of Rs 15,000 per acre would be given.
He said that the compensation has been increased by 25 per cent. He said that earlier the compensation amount was Rs 12,000 per acre.
Mann said that in case of 33 to 75 percent crop loss, compensation would be given at Rs 6,750 as against Rs 5,400 per acre.
Mann said that he has issued instructions to all the deputy commissioners to conduct special girdawaris to assess crop damage and complete the work within a week.
