Farmers stage dharna at Sunderbani

Chief Spokesperson Congress, Ravinder Sharma addressing a gathering of protesting farmers at Sunderbani on Wednesday.
Chief Spokesperson Congress, Ravinder Sharma addressing a gathering of protesting farmers at Sunderbani on Wednesday.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 16: A protest dharna was held by farmers of Sunderbani, Beripattan and part of  Nowshera Tehsils in front of SDM Office Sunderbani today. The protestors  were demanding relief and compensation for huge loss they suffered due to unprecedented rain and hailstorm on March 14.
Speaking on the occasion  Mr. Ravinder  Sharma,  former MLC and Chief Spokesman JKPCC  said  that  the  farmers of Sunderbani,  Beripattan and part of Nowshera Tehsil  have suffered a huge loss caused due to heavy rains and unprecedented hailstorm.  He said that the Wheat crops, vegetables and the fruit crops have been damaged, completely.      He demanded that the Government  should immediately depute special teams comprising of departments of revenue, Agriculture, Horticulture and Sericulture etc. In order to have proper assessment of various kinds of crops damaged, as the Department of revenue does not generally classify the kinds of crops while conducting Girdawri as a result the affected farmers do not get adequate relief.
Mr. Sharma demanded immediate supply of free ration to the badly affected areas. In this connection he also talked to the higher authorities including DDC Rajouri.
A large number of people along with Panchayats representatives headed by Thakur Shamsher Singh- Sarpanch and President Block Congress Committee Sunderbani and submitted a memorandum, urging the administration to provide immediate relief to the people, besides loss of wheat crops, fruit, vegetables, cattle and other livestock should be assessed in order to provide compensation to the sufferers.