Crop damage survey in a fortnight: Minister

Bhopal, Mar 15 (UNI) Survey to assess damage to crops caused by recent unseasonal rains and hailstorm in different districts of Madhya Pradesh will be carried out within a fortnight and compensation distributed at the earliest, Revenue Minister Kamal Patel told the Assembly today.

At least 11 people were killed due to lightning in Umaria, Rewa, Katni and Sidhi districts and detailed reports were still awaited, he said while replying to the debate on a call attention notice moved by Mr Ramlakhan Sharma(CPI-M), Mr Indrajit Kumar and Mr Satyadeo Katare (both Cong).

Mr Patel said Gram Panchayat Sarpanchs and Panchs will be associated to ensure transparency in the survey by Revenue and Agriculture officials. Amendments were carried out in the Revenue Book Circular to enhance the compensation to farmers. The next of kin of the dead would be given Rs 1 lakh each, he added.

Mr Patel assured that brick kiln owners and vegetable and betel growers would also be suitably compensated.

Mr Ramlakhan Sharma and other members wanted that the farmers suffered heavy damage due to unseasonal rains in February and again in March, while many areas were already facing drought.

Leader of the opposition Jamuna Devi sought enhancement of the compensation saying many farmers had spent an amount more than the compensation received in opening bank account.

Mr Patel assured that the government would adopt a liberal attitude in providing compensation and would also ensure availability of fodder, besides starting relief works. There is no shortage of funds, he said, adding action would be taken against officials found committing irregularities.

On the request of Mr Katare, the minister assured to consider suspending recovery of minimum charge from electricity consumers.

Mr Indrajit Kumar, Dr I M P Verma, Mr Shankarlal Tiwari, Mr Vanshmani Prasad Verma, Ms Saroj Bachhan Nayak, Mr Ramdayal Prabhakar, Ms Alka Jain and Mr Dhruv Prasad Singh also took part in the discussions.

UNI