9,000 farmers get relief for damaged crops

Tribune News Service

Uttarkashi, April 28

In a major relief to farmers hit by unseasonal rains and hailstorms, the state government through horticulture and agriculture department has begun the exercise of distributing compensation to the farmers in Uttarkashi district.

Secretary Horticulture Department and in charge Uttarkashi, Dr Nidhi Pandey, paid a visit here and distributed the relief cheques to several farmers at various villages in the district. Addressing

mediapersons at the district headquarters in yesterday, she said the compensation distribution work was carrying on in full swing. Over 9,000 farmers from the district have received Rs 1 crore as compensation from the state disaster and Chief Minister's Relief Fund, Nidhi Pandey said.

She further said the Horticulture and Agriculture Department would be distributing free-kit containing seeds of various crops and vegetables along with agriculture equipments to farmers soon.

Nidhi Pandey also informed mediapersons that around 5174.9 hectare of land has been hit by

unseasonal rains and hail affecting around 9,829 farmers in the district. Around 250 employees from various government departments have been divided into 31 sectors to assess the damage to crops in

the district.

Nidhi Pandey said the compensation amount was being distributed as per Central government guidelines and they had distributed Rs 97.17 lakh out of Rs 2.13 crore received so far.

The compensation for the damaged crops has been fixed to Rs 13,800 per hectare for irrigated land, and Rs 6,800 for non-irrigated agriculture land. For land under horticulture, Rs 18,000

per hectare is being distributed and the minimum amount has been fixed at Rs 2,000.

Pandey said the government had made arrangements from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund in case of any shortfall in the compensation.

Pandey also said the department was looking at the possibility of creating a dedicated mobile application for the farmers so that they receive the latest information about the development in the field of

horticulture.

She also directed officials concerned to take utmost care whiles assessing the damage and the compensation should go to the actual beneficiaries.

DM Uttarkashi Indudhar Baudai speaking on the occasion said the departments concerned had been directed to coordinate in the compensation distribution efforts and leaves of several officials had

been cancelled to speed up the work.

Several officials from the Agriculture, Horticulture and other departments were present on the occasion.