Frost caused Rs 5,375 lakh loss in HP

Shimla, Mar 25 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta today said the state lost agricultural produce worth Rs 5,375 lakh due to frost during these winters.

Replying to a question by Prakash Chaudhary, Deshraj, Rikhi Ram Kaundal, Rajesh Dharmani and Yograj during Question Hour, he said loss to farmers due to frost during the winters this year was estimated at Rs 5,375.93 lakh.

Mr Bragta said no compensation had been distributed to the affected farmers as their was no provision for providing relief to them under the Relief Manual. However, the government was providing grant-in-aid to the farmers for the loss suffered and this would continue in the years to come, he added.

He said the Horticulture Department organised 400 awareness camps across the state to educate farmers and horticluturists how to prevent losses to their crops.

Seventy five such camps were held at Una district, 62 in Mandi, 130 in Kangra district, 20 in Solan, 89 in Bilaspur, eight each in Kullu and Chamba districts, 46 in Sirmaur and 18 in Shimla district, he said.

The Minister said the state government had already urged the Centre to include Mango and Apple under the crops insurance scheme.

Earlier, replying to a question by Govind Ram Thakur, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the government was considering a proposal to increase the members in the Local Area Development Authority (LADA) where hydel projects were being set up in the state.

This, he said, was being done to include pradhan of the local panchayat, local legislator, MP or BDC members, and added that in all 17 mini and large hydel projects were being set up in Kullu district alone.

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