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Tribune News Service
Shimla, April 22
Farmers are in trouble as hailstorms have devastated the apple crop worth Rs 100 crore in Shimla, Kullu and parts of Mandi districts and caused a huge damage to vegetable crops as well. But hailstorms are not covered under the weather-based crop insurance and PM Fasal Bima Yojna.
According to farmers, hails damaged crops to the tune of Rs 100 crore.
Most of the damage is concentrated in Chopal, Maroag, Lal Pani, Pulbahal, Rohru, Totu Pani, Jubbal Kotkhai, Baggi, Ratnari, Kalbog, Mail, Chethala, Nerwa, Nawar Tikkar, Matyana, Shilaru, Mandhol, Devthi, Rampur, Kutan, Nankhari, Bhutti, Shamatla, Bharach, Junga Dalash, Anni, Kullu.
President of the Himachal Seb Udpadak Sangh and Theog legislator Rakesh Singha today shot off a letter to Chief Secretary BK Aggarwal, saying that it was shocking that insurance companies and government agencies did not cover hailstorm under the crop insurance schemes despite the fact it damaged more than 30 per cent crop every year.
As per information, yesterday hailstorm caused losses worth Rs 100 crore to the farmers, destroying their economy, Singha added.
Singha demanded that the government must increase the subsidy on anti-hail nets by 50 crore.
Director, Horticulture, Dr ML Dhiman said the revenue and horticulture departments had been directed to assess the loss in a week. The preliminary loss to crops was in excess of 19,000 MT, mostly in Shimla district. The staff was on election duty and assessment might take more time.