Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 10: Chairman People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and former Minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen today urged the Government to provide adequate compensation to the farmers and fruit growers as gusty winds and hailstorm damaged the standing crops and orchards on Monday.
In a statement issued today, Hakeem Yaseen expressed concern over the massive damage caused to standings crops, orchards and residential structures in various parts of Kashmir valley due to intermittent strong winds and hailstorm.
“The agriculture and horticulture sectors in particular have been shattered by successive strokes of hailstorm in several parts of Kashmir valley including various areas of Budgam and Khansahib constituency,” Hakeem Yaseen stressed and urged the Government to immediately waive off KCC loans of all farmers and orchardists of Kashmir valley as they are unable to repay their loans in the prevailing conditions inflicted on them due to weather vagaries.
He urged the Government to provide adequate compensation and market intervention initiatives to help the farmers and orchardists to sustain their livelihood against the prevailing odds. “It was most unfortunate that despite repeated appeals made by the affected farmers, orchardists, civil society groups and political parties to announce compensation and waive off KCC loans, Government has not come forward as yet with any announcement like that so far,” Hakeem Yaseen observed.
Yaseen urged the Government to take immediate cognizance of the hardships of the farmers/fruit growers due to severe economic and financial losses inflicted on them due to the natural calamity and announce relief measures in tune with the colossal losses caused by the strong winds and massive hailstorm.
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