The Punjab government has pegged a crop loss of 50 to 100 per cent in 3 lakh acres of the cultivated area for Kharif crops. Crops on two lakh acres have recorded a damage of 25 per cent to 50 per cent. Sources in the government told The Indian Express that crops on 3 lakh acres of land had suffered huge damage up to 100 per cent. These farmers will get a compensation at the rate of Rs 20,000 per acre. The government had pegged total damage to crop on 5 lakh acres. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had announced in September that farmers, who suffered damage of 75 to 100 per cent will get a compensation of Rs 20,000 crore. For damage of 26 to 33 per cent to their crop would be compensated at Rs 10,000 per acre (enhancement from existing Rs 2000 per acre under SDRF norms), 33 to 75 per cent crop loss to Rs 10,000 from existing Rs 6800 per acre and for 75 to 100 per cent crop loss compensation has been increased to Rs 20,000 per acre again from existing Rs 6800. He said that in the Rs 20,000 per acre compensation being given to the farmers the state government will contribute Rs 14,900 which is the highest in the country. “We are preparing the damage report on the basis of SDRF guidelines, which has the slabs of 1-25 per cent, 25 to 50 per cent and 50 per cent to 100 per cent. We are sending this as per our special girdawari report submitted by the patwaris,” an official said. Sources said that 1,371 cows and buffaloes were washed away and 1.75 lakh poultry birds died. For the milch cattle, the compensation would be Rs 37,500. For each poultry bird, it would be Rs 250. There is a cap of 40 birds for the compensation under the SDRF norms. A poultry farmer would not be compensated for more than Rs 10,000, a government official said. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary KAP Sinha who had called a meeting of administrative secretaries of concerned departments was not able to hold it as he was busy with AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal's visit. Sources said Special Chief Secretary Anurag Verma held a video conferencing with the secretaries in Sinha's absence. The meeting will now be held on Friday. Sources also said that the CM has directed officials to prepare a memorandum of damage due to floods so that the government can start rolling out compensation from October 13. He has asked the officials to decide on a place where a function can be organised. “Most likely, it will be near Tarn Taran, which will be going to Assembly bypoll on November 11. Tarn Taran is under code of conduct, so we will do it near Tarn Taran. Also, the damage has been maximum in Majha area. So it makes sense to organise a function to disburse compensation from there,” an official said.
