Compensate farmers hit by hailstorm: LS members

New Delhi, Mar 13: Party affiliations went for a toss in the Lok Sabha today (Mar 13, 2006), with members from all sides of the House demanding in one voice adequate central assistance to compensate the farmers hit hard by the recent hailstorm in various states across the country.

The cricket atmosphere, which had set-in in the House as soon as the House had assembled at 1100 hrs in the wake of members sending out a congratulatory message to Anil Kumble on taking his 500th wicket and Speaker Somnath Chatterjee updating them on the latest score, suddenly waned into thin air, with one member after another raising the serious issue of the havoc played by the storm in their respective districts and states.

Raising the matter during zero hour, Mr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav (SP) demanded adequate compensation to farmers in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Bundelkhand and Lalitpur districts. The affected people were starving and were not in a position to return their bank loans.

Ms Rupatai Diliprao Patil (BJP) said over 1,200 villages had been hit in Madhya Pradesh and wheat crop in two lakh hactares had been destroyed.

Mr Shailendra Kumar (SP) said most of the areas in Uttar Pradesh had been affected by the unseasonal rains.

Dr Karan Singh Yadav (Cong) said the hailstorm had inflicted heavy losses on Rajasthan farmers who had lost crops and cattle.

Mr Subhash Maharia (BJP) demanded that the Centre send a team to assess the damage by unseasonal rains in Rajasthan, particularly in Alwar and Junjhunu districts. The electricity arrears of farmers should be waived, he said.

Mr Ramdas Athawale (RPI-A) said mango, pomegranate and sugarcane crops in Maharashtra had perished and sought compensation and insurance cover for such losses.

The Speaker said he had allowed all the members who wanted to raise the issue in view of its importance. Otherwise, he normally allowed only one member and asked others who wanted to raise the same issue to associate themselves with the first MP, permitted to speak, Mr Chatterjee explained.

UNI