Sidhu to pay Rs 24 lakh compensation to farmers from own pocket

Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has reaches out to farmers who lost their crops in the fire accident at Rajasansi, and will personally pay Rs 24 lakh to them in Amritsar.

Chandigarh, April 24: Punjab Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday announced a compensation of Rs 24 lakh from his pocket to the farmers in Amritsar whose crops turned to ash in a fire accident in Rajasansi on Friday night.

Sidhu, who visited Othian, one of the affected villages, said that the fire broke out in the fields due to short circuit. He said that the power department will be paying Rs 8,000 per acre to the affected farmers, taking a total relief of Rs 24 lakh as around 300-acre crop was gutted in the fire.

He said that the announced compensation will not be enough and that's so he visited the place to announce another Rs 24 lakh ex-gratia from his own pocket and added that it his responsibility to help the farmers of Rajasansi who had supported him.

The minister stated that there is no harm in compensating the farmers as he earns money from television shows.

Sidhu assured that he will speak to the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to increase the compensation for crop loss.

Sidhu had also asked Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha to take up the fire accident issue and ensure that high-voltage wires hanging over the crops are removed or rectified.

Sidhu had given Rs 1 crore for the 'Go Green, Go Clean' campaign when he was the member of Parliament from Amritsar at that time.

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