Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 12: Senior National Conference leaders have expressed grave concern over the damages caused to standing crops across the Jammu division and sought immediate compensation to the suffering farmers.
In a joint statement, senior leaders and former legislators of NC, Rattan Lal Gupta, Aijaz Jan and Sheikh Bashir Ahmed today urged the Revenue Department to depute teams to the affected areas for carrying out survey to assess the losses.
Rattan Lal Gupta, State vice-president of the party made a passionate appeal to the Centre for providing assistance to the farmers who have suffered immensely due to incessant rains during the past few days. “Till the time assessment is made, preliminary assistance in terms of free rations and agricultural inputs are needed to be provided to the affected farmers”, he added.
Aijaz jan, former MLA Poonch, expressed solidarity with the farming community and hoped that the concerned authorities will appreciate the urgency of the matter and come to rescue of the farmers. He said the rains have caused immense damages to crops and put the farmers in a precarious situation. “They need immediate succor”, he said while urging the Revenue and Agriculture departments to come forward and help the suffering farmers earnestly.
The National Conference leaders also sought restoration of various works especially the damaged road network especially in far-off and remote areas. They said the connectivity has to be ensured and restored wherever it got snapped, causing disruption in the movement of essentials and rations in remote areas.
They also urged the authorities to draw up plans to meet such exigencies in the future.