Chandigarh, August 23, 2020 (Yes Punjab News)
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today asked chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh to order a ‘girdwari’ (special revenue assessment) to assess the damage caused to kharif crops in around a dozen villages in Abohar even as he called for hiking the crop compensation rates in Punjab by raising the State quotient as was done by the erstwhile SAD-BJP government.
In a statement here, the SAD President said flood waters had inundated standing cotton and other crops in around a dozen villages in Abohar causing widespread damage to crops besides entering several colonies in the city leading to damage to houses and household goods.
He said the people were suffering due to the failure of the Congress government to get all drains cleaned before the monsoon season. He said farmers had even raised a dharna on the Abohar-Seetogunno-Dabwali road yesterday to draw attention to the problem of overflowing from the Abulkhurana drain.
Asking the government to take other appropriate measures, Mr Sukhbir Badal said the government should release compensation for houses damaged in farmer fields in various villages besides houses and house hold goods damaged in Abohar city.
He also called for quick restoration of essential services in Abohar city. He said as per reports there was also a severe shortage of fodder for milch animals in affected villages and the government should take steps to supply the same.
The SAD President said there were reports that the cotton crop had been partially damaged at many places. He said separate compensation should be given for the same besides releasing compensation for damage caused by excess rain during the last rabi season.
He also demanded that the government hike crop compensation rates in Punjab by increasing the State quotient as done by former chief minister S Parkash Singh Badal.
