Government assessing damage to rabi crop: Minister

Chandigarh, Mar 28 (UNI) Punjab Revenue and Rehablitation Minister Ajit Singh Kohar today assured the state assembly that the government was concerened over the plight of the farmers whose rabi crop had been damaged due to rain and hailstorm recently.

Replying to the call attention notice by Balbir Singh Batth (SAD), the Minister said that reports of damage to the rabi crop in in certain areas was around 100 percent while in others it was around 25 per cent.

Instructions had bee issued to all the Deputy Commissioners to conduct the 'Special Girdawari' to assess the damage, he replied.

Reports of damage are being sent by the districts, he added.

As per the reports received uptil now, loss has been reported to crops in 14 districts of the state. In six districts, that is Amritsar, Barnala, Jalandhar, Mansa, Nawanshahar and Tarn Taran no loss had been reported, he added.

As per reports received till March 20, approximately an area of 1,56,544 acres has been affected due to rain or hail or both, he told the House.

Mr Kohar said that to expedite and monitor the assessment survey, 20 senior officers of the level of Administrative Secretaries (and above) were deputed to visit the districts and report on the damage.

It is expected that full details of the damage will be received very shortly, he assured the members.

UNI