Government should immediately provide compensation of ₹50,000 per acre to farmers affected by rain and hailstorm: Balwinder Dhaliwal
Retired IAS officer and MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal has expressed deep concern over the heavy damage caused to standing wheat crops due to recent unseasonal rain and hailstorms in Punjab. He has urged the state government to immediately conduct crop damage assessment (girdawari) and ensure proper compensation for affected farmers.
City Air News
Apr 5, 2026 07:19
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Chandigarh, April 5, 2026: Retired IAS officer and MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal has expressed deep concern over the heavy damage caused to standing wheat crops due to recent unseasonal rain and hailstorms in Punjab. He has urged the state government to immediately conduct crop damage assessment (girdawari) and ensure proper compensation for affected farmers.
Dhaliwal stated that farmers had not yet fully recovered from the recent floods when rainfall and hailstorms during the wheat harvesting season dealt another severe blow. This double crisis has pushed farmers into a situation of serious financial instability.
Expressing concern over the worsening condition of farmers, he said that a large portion of the standing wheat crop has suffered significant damage, further pushing already distressed farmers into uncertainty. He emphasized that timely assessment of losses and provision of relief is crucial to prevent the situation from turning into a larger agrarian crisis.
Targeting the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government, Dhaliwal alleged that the government is shirking its responsibilities during this difficult time. He strongly criticized the slow functioning of the administration and its failure to address the immediate needs of affected farmers.
He also pointed out that compensation for the damage caused to paddy crops during the previous floods has still not been provided, worsening the financial hardships of farmers. “Farmers are already facing an economic crisis, and the delay in compensation for previous losses has made their condition even more miserable,” he said.
Demanding immediate intervention, Dhaliwal urged the government to announce compensation of ₹50,000 per acre and ensure that relief funds reach farmers without delay. He reiterated that farmers are the backbone of Punjab’s economy and that the government must act promptly and responsibly to safeguard their livelihoods.
