Central team to assess rabi crop loss in Punjab

Chandigarh, Mar 16 (UNI) Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has agreed to send a Central team to Punjab to assess the damage caused to the rabi crop particularly wheat due to the recent rain and hail storm that hit the northern region.

This was announced by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal while talking to mediapersons outside the Vidhan Sabha here today.

Mr Badal disclosed that he spoke to Mr Pawar about the damage caused to the rabi crop due to inclement weather conditions that prevailed in the region. The Agriculture Minister had agreed to his demand for sending a Central team to assess the damage, he added.

The Chief Minister said that he had directed all his Ministers, the concerned administrative secretaries and the Deputy Commissioners to assess the damage to the crops and compile reports immediately so that assessment could be made on the compensation to be given to the farmers. The exact amount of compensation to be given to the farmers would be decided only after the report of the Central team, he said.

Mr Badal had already demanded central assistance for the damage to the rabi crop. The opposition Congress had yesterday demanded that each affected farmer should be paid Rs 10,000 per acre for the damage.

Cooperation Minister Capt Kawaljit Singh who was also present at the press briefing said that the estimated loss to the rabi crop could be to the tune of Rs 350 crore. About 2.5 lakh tonnes of wheat had been destroyed due to the unseasonal heavy rains and hail, he said.

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