Declare damage caused by hail…, chirag paswan letter to CM!
Union minister chirag paswan on saturday urged the bihar government to declare the 'large-scale' crop damage caused by lightning, hail and unseasonal rains as a 'state disaster'. Chirag also demanded 'adequate' compensation for the affected farmers in several districts. In a letter to bihar Chief minister Nitish Kumar, Lok Janshakti party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag wrote that the unseasonal rain and hailstorm in the last two days has caused considerable damage to wheat and other crops in many districts of the state, causing distress to farmers.
The letter further wrote that the incident should be declared a state disaster and a survey should be conducted to assess the damage to the crops. He stressed that the farmers who have suffered losses should be given adequate and immediate compensation. According to the report, more than 80 people have died in the state due to lightning and thunderstorms in the last three days.
'Relief camps should be opened for farmers'
Chirag said in his letter that the government should announce immediate relief measures for the affected farmers. The state government should reduce interest rates on their agricultural loans and give them additional time to repay their loans. The government should also provide pesticides to the affected farmers at a low price. Apart from this, relief camps should be opened for farmers in the affected areas. The bihar government on saturday directed officials to immediately assess the damage to crops due to bad weather.
'Instructions to assess damage to crops'
A statement issued by the office of Vijay Kumar Sinha, deputy chief minister and Agriculture Department of bihar, said, "Officials have been instructed to immediately assess the damage caused to crops due to recent incidents of lightning, hailstorm and rain. Instructions have also been given to provide relief material to the farmers in the affected districts. All district Agriculture Officers have been asked to complete this work as soon as possible.
