Flood in Narmada: Special relief package for flood-affected farmers
The compensation will be handed out into the bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, the statement said.
3 min read
Farmers seeking compensation will have to apply for a relief package on the web portal of the government through the Village Computer Entrepreneur and Village Level Entrepreneur until October 31. (Express File Photo) A week after the flood in Narmada river damaged several hectare of farmland in Bharuch, Vadodara and Narmada districts, the Gujarat government on Saturday declared a special relief package for the affected farmers. The package was approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
In a statement, the government said that the relief was being offered as part of the compensation provided as per the norms of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and a special additional provision made in the state budget.
“Farmers, who have suffered losses of 33 per cent or more to their standing crops will be eligible for the compensation. According to the special relief package, farmers who have suffered 33 per cent or more damage to non-irrigated kharif crops will receive a compensation of Rs 8,500 per hectare up to a maximum of 2 hectare while irrigated farms that sowed kharif crops will receive a compensation of Rs 17,000 per hectare and an additional compensation of Rs 8,000 per hectare from the state treasury, in all providing Rs 25,000 per hectare for a maximum of 2 hectare,” it added.
The government further said that for damage to horticulture produce above 33 per cent, it will compensate Rs 22,500 from the SDRF as well as an additional Rs 15,000 per hectare from the state treasury, thereby providing Rs 37,500 compensation per hectare for a maximum area of 2 hectare.
Farmers suffering 33 per cent or more damage to their other horticulture crops, accompanied by trees being uprooted, felled or suffering any other damage, will receive a compensation of Rs 22,500 per hectare from SDRF and an additional Rs 1.02 lakh from the state treasury.
In all, a compensation of 1.25 lakh per hectare will be paid for a maximum of 2 hectare. Farmers seeking compensation will have to apply for a relief package on the web portal of the government through the Village Computer Entrepreneur and Village Level Entrepreneur until October 31.
The compensation will be handed out into the bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, the statement said.
Calling the compensation a “mockery” of the anguish suffered by affected families and farmers, Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said, “Farmers in Bharuch, Narmada and Vadodara districts have suffered huge losses due to this man-made disaster. Approximately four lakh farmers have suffered losses in the region and so the compensation package announced by the government is a mockery.” He added that the Congress had demanded that the compensation be extended to all farmers, irrespective of the damage, and to the entire area of the farm instead of only 2 hectare.
“The area has a maximum of banana and vegetable crops. The vegetables should also be compensated as per the amount doled out to horticulture crops. The maximum limit of 2 hectare should be withdrawn and the entire farm should be considered for compensation as per the revenue records. Similarly, the 33 per cent or more damage clause needs to be removed and the entire damage should be compensated for,” Doshi said.
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