Haryana seeks funds to meet crop loss

By Our Special Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, MAY 7. The Haryana Government has sought Central assistance out of the Natural Calamity Fund to adequately compensate the farmers who have suffered a loss of Rs.600 crores due to damage to their crops by the recent hailstorm and inclement weather.

The Chief Minister, Mr. Om Prakash Chautala, said here that the State Government had, however, already started giving compensation to the affected farmers at the rate of Rs 2,000 per acre, but it would only meet the cost of inputs and not compensate for the value of the damaged crops.

The Chief Minister, who has visited about 40 grain markets to inspect the arrival and procurement of wheat besides interacting with farmers and officials to ensure smooth procurement, said about 50 lakh tonnes of wheat had been procured till yesterday.

In view of the bumper harvest and the expected heavy arrivals, the agencies would procure about 55 lakhs tonnes to 60 lakhs tonnes of wheat, whereas only 45 lakh tonnes of wheat was procured during last year.

He clarified that there was neither a shortage of gunny bags nor of storage space as the Government had already made adequate arrangements.

The delay in arrival of gunny bags from Kolkata was due to an oversight of the Railways, but that too had been rectified, he added.

Mr. Chautala said the farmers of even neighbouring states were bringing their wheat to the mandis in Haryana and all were getting their payments on time.

He hoped that the bumper crop would give good returns to the farmers and they would be able to pay the arrears of their power bills.

He said that farmers were being educated to rationalise their crop cycle to enable the soil to maintain its fertility.

They were also being motivated to diversify their crops and their response to cultivation of flowers, fruits and vegetable was

encouraging.

He refuted the allegation levelled by the president of the Haryana unit of the Congress,Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, that procurement of wheat was not smooth.

He alleged that Mr. Hooda had been trying to mislead the people in view of the proposed rally being organised by his party on May 20. Mr. Hooda was not aware that procurement of wheat would be completed before that day, he added.

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