Horticulture Minister directs to submit report on damage to crops within 15 days

Shimla:
Horticulture Minister Mahender Singh Thakur presided over a meeting to review the damage to the crops and fruits due to unseasonal snow, hail storm and heavy rains in the state, here today.

Horticulture Minister directed the authorities to constitute committees under the chairmanship of Deputy Director Horticulture of district Shimla, Kinnaur, Mandi, Kullu, Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti and Sirmaur to prepare damage report. The Committee would also include scientists of Horticulture University, officers of Revenue department and representatives of insurance companies and horticulturists.

The Minister directed the officers to prepare and submit a detailed analysis report alongwith videography of the damages within 15 days. He also directed Sub-Divisional Magistrates of the concerned area to send daily review report to his office. He said that the Horticulture department had decided to transfer the subsidy of crop protection medicines into the bank accounts of horticulturists of the State through Direct Benefit Transfer.

Director Horticulture Dr. J.P. Sharma, Additional Director Horticulture Dr. D.P. Singh and other senior officers of Horticulture department and crop insurance companies were also present in the meeting.