Provide crop compensation to affected farmers: Ex-MLC

Excelsior Correspondent
SUNDERBANI, Apr 1 : Former MLC and PCC spokesperson Ravinder Sharma has expressed  serious concern over the poor response  of Govt towards farmers of Nowshera-Sunderbani whose crops were totally destroyed due to unprecedented rains and hailstorm recently.
Speaking in a meeting of prominent Congress workers and farmers  here today, the Ex-MLC said that  farmers of Sunderbani, Beripattan and part of  Nowshera tehsils have suffered huge loss caused due to unprecedented rains and devastating hailstorm. The wheat crop, vegetables and the fruit crops and other live stock of the farmers have been adversely affected.
He pointed out that during recent meeting with the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu the former had passed on instructions to DC Rajouri  for proper  assessment and timely delivery of the relief to the affected people. But it was unfortunate that nothing has been done so far. Mr Sharma demanded free ration for affected people for six months, besides providing of seed, fertilizers on subsidized rates and the waiving off of agriculture loans against those people whose crops have been totally damaged.
The PCC leader further said that many genuine people whose houses were on State land and adversely affected in the  last year’s rains and devastating flood have been deprived from the relief. He demanded that the concerned authorities should ensure that all the genuine leftover people including those whose houses  are built on State land should be included in the fresh lists for relief/compensation.
He also expressed concern over the supply of wheat grain instead of wheat flour and reducing the quota of sugar by the Govt. He blamed previous PDP-BJP Govt who derailed the ration supply system in the State due to unplanned and hasty decision  without taking adequate measures to maintain the quota of ration, as a result the people are suffering.