Standing crops in about 60,000 hec affected by rains and hail

Hoshiarpur, Mar 16 (UNI) G S Sandhu, Financial Commissioner (Development), Agriculture Department, Punjab today said the recent torrential rains and hailstorm have destroyed or damaged standing crops, especially wheat, in an area from 55,000 to 60,000 hectares in the state.

Out of this area, the major damage to the standing crops had occurred due to hailstorm in Ferozepur, Ludhiana and Patiala districts, Mr Sandhu told media persons here.

According to the preliminary reports, the standing crops between 70 per cent to 100 per cent had been damaged in half of the above said areas whereas 25 per cent to 70 per cent in the rest, he said.

Mr Sandhu said standing crops in 7,086 acres of 49 villages of Tanda bllock and 900 acres of 14 villages of Dasuya block located in the Mand area of Hoshiarpur district had been damaged.

Meanwhile, a report from Ludhiana said S S Channy, Principal Secretary, Department of Labour and Employment today visited around one dozen villages of Samrala sub-division to assess the extent of damage to wheat and other crops.

During the visit farmers apprised Mr Channy about the severe damage to the crops of wheat, potato, sunflower and vegetables and demanded that damage to all the crops, including vegetables and oil seeds should be assessed for compensation.

On the demand of the farmers regarding the less number of Patwaris available for Girdawari (survey), Mr Channy asked the Deputy Commissioner to depute more Patwaris from other parts of the district so that the work could be completed within one week.

He said the Chief Minister would review the reports of all the Principal Secretaries deputed for the assessment in different districts in a special meeting at Chandigarh on March 19. He informed that he would visit the affected villages in Khanna and Payal sub-divisions tomorrow.

UNI