Punjab CM Hikes Compensation From Rs.5000 To Rs 8000 Per Acre For Rain/Hailstorm Affected Farmers

Chandigarh, April 30, 2015: In a major reprieve to the farmers worst affected by the unseasonal rains and hailstorm, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced to enhance the compensation from Rs.5000 to Rs 8000 per acre for the loss incurred by all the farmers due to the vagaries of the weather.

Presiding over a high level meeting to review the loss of crop due to rains before the current harvesting season, the Chief Minister, while expressing concern over the colossus damage to the Wheat crop in nearly 1.20 lac acres across the state till now, has averred that it was the moral duty of the state government to bail these farmers out of the grave crisis. He said that the farmers of the state have been ever on the forefront to secure nation’s food security so it was a high time to pay back to these hard working and resilient food growers of the country by extending all possible help. Badal asked the officers to ensure that every affected farmer was given the relief in a time bound manner.

It was decided in the meeting that the state government would have to bear an expenditure of Rs 96 crore for helping the farmers who have lost their crops due aberrations in weather during the months of February, March and even April. It was informed that the wheat crop in over 1,10,452 acre was destroyed during the rains before March 31 whereas farmers had suffered loss over 9857 acres during the rains after April 1 too.   

The Chief Minister immediately sanctioned Rs 52 crore for disbursing amongst the hapless farmers in this hour of crisis. Likewise, he also asked the officers to ensure that the remaining Rs 44 crore was also disbursed to the farmers within a week. Badal reiterated that no stone would be left unturned for ensuring the well being of the farmers facing this acute crisis. He asked the officers to ensure that the compensation was disbursed to the farmers within a week.

Prominent amongst other present in the meeting included Cabinet Ministers Bikram Singh Majithia and Jathedar Tota Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister SK Sandhu, Financial Commissioner Revenue Karan Avtar Singh, Secretary Expenditure Jaspal Singh, Secretary Revenue Samir Kumar and Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Gaggandip Singh Brar.