Srinagar: National Conference on Wednesday sought adequate compensation for the hailstorm affected farmers in north and south Kashmir districts saying gravity of losses incurred by farmers, and horticulturalists merit immediate attention of incumbent JK government.
Expressing deep concern over the massive destruction caused to the standing crops, Party leaders Chaudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Qaisar Jamsheed Lone, Javed Dar and Abdul Ahad Dar in a joint statement stated that due to the heavy hailstorm , rains and gusty winds various standing crops have incurred heavy damage at Baramulla, Kupwara, and Budgam. The functionaries said that the heavy hailstorm has played havoc with the fruit and food grain production, affecting badly the livelihood of hundreds of marginal farmers who he said need to be compensated adequately for their sustenance. “The severe weather condition that lasted for hours played havoc with people farmer’s standing crops particularly paddy, corn, Apple, cherry, walnuts and almonds. The weather vagary has, defoliated, bend, breaked and stripped trees of vegetative parts, hence destroying the months of hard work of our farmers. In addition to it the hailstorm has significantly caused fatal trauma to people and cattle at various places. The heavy downpour has impacted orchids, electricity transmission lines at various other places as well,” they said.
The severe weather played havoc with the people’s crops and property, the leaders said the divisional administration Kashmir should come forward to the rescue of affected. “The district and divisional administration should immediately come to the rescue of affected and rush revenue teams to the affected hamlets to access the losses incurred by people especially the cherry growers so that a proper compensation is worked out at an earliest and distributed among affected forthwith,” they said demanding that the compensation to the affected farmers and horticulturalists be given on the basis of MSP. The leaders also enjoined upon the concerned officers of the agriculture, horticulture and revenue authorities to assess the quantum of colossal loses so that volume of compensation and relief could be worked out at the earliest. They have also urged the horticulture experts to guide the farming community in this need of hour.
Meanwhile Party Senior leader, state secretary Sakina Itoo, G A Shah, South Zone President Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri, District President Kulgam Abdul Majeed Bhat Larmi, District President Anantnag Altaf Ahmed Wani, and Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar have also impressed upon the divisional and district administration to assess the losses to farmers, and horticulturalists in south Kashmir due to heavy hail storm. The functionaries also impressed upon the district administration across south Kashmir to ensure sourcing of fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, animal and poultry feed by the people associated with the agriculture and its allied sectors. The former legislature asked the local administration to take up the desiltation, and repair work of all irrigation canals in the district as well.
