Proposed relief scale for snow affected orchardists in adequate: Hakeem Yaseen

Srinagar: Sharing concern of the snow affected orchardists about delay in payment of relief on account of colossal damage caused to their orchards and apple crop , Chairman PDF and MLA Khansahib, Hakeem Yaseen has urged the Government to complete the loss assessment exercise on war footing basis so that adequate ex-gratia is paid to the affected orchardists. He said unexpected snow fury has wrecked a havoc with the livelihood of fruit growers who have pinned high hopes with the Governor administration for their relief.
In a statement to KNS, Hakeem Yaseen while sharing concern of snow damaged orchardists has said that the un-necessary delay being caused to finalize the snow damage assessment in favour of affected fruit growers was a cause of serious concern adding that the Government should come up to the expectations of the panic ridden farmers and provide adequate relief to them.
He said Government should also address concerns of the affected orchardists that the proposed scale of relief under local calamity relief fund for the affected orchardists was too in adequate as compared to the quantum of damage caused to their orchards and apple crop due to the un- expected snow fury.
Hakeem Yaseen has called for urgent measures to provide adequate relief to the panic stricken farmers adding that besides cash relief, they should be provided free ration for 3 months, free plant material, free fertilizers and fungicides. He said damage caused to the orchards due to snow has inflicted a recurring loss worth crore to the horticulture sector. He said fruit growers are desperately in need of out of way assistance both in cash and kind to withstand the natural calamity.
Hakeem Yaseen has also called for immediate restoration of power supply and road network in far-flung areas which, he said, was still in shambles aftermath the untimely snow fall. He said Governor Administration should gear up men and machinery and in advance, make all the required arrangements to meet any exigency during winter months on account of power, drinking water supply and snow clearance from various roads. He said unexpected snow fall should be a wakeup call for the Governor administration to ensure fool proof winter arrangements in the snow bound areas of Kashmir division. (KNS)