Rains,strong winds damage crop

Horticulture department officials said that hailstorm and strong winds have damaged standing fruit and vegetable crop,including kinnows,mainly in Ferozepur district. “We are still estimating the damage. As per initial survey reports,nearly eight to 10 villages in Khuban area near Abohar in Ferozepur have suffered over 70 per cent damage to fruits and vegetable crop. The figure may go up to 80 per cent. Villages in Sito Guna area near Abohar have also suffered extensive damage due to hailstorm,while in some areas,strong winds have caused 40 to 50 per cent damage to fruits and vegetables. There are reports of damage from Bathinda and Muktsar districts as well. The actual damage can be assessed only after the assessment is completed,” said Deputy Director (horticulture) Dr Gurkanwal Singh. In districts such as Hoshiarpur,from where no hailstorm or strong winds were reported,rains will actually prove beneficial for fruits and vegetables,he added.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has ordered a special girdawari to assess the damage caused to the recently sown cotton crop,kinnows and fodder crop in Bathinda,Muktsar and Abohar regions due to the untimely rains and hailstorm.

He has directed the financial commissioner (Revenue) to issue detailed instructions to the concerned deputy commissioners to immediately carry out girdawari in areas lashed by rains and hailstorm to ascertain the damage caused to cotton,fodder and kinnow crops on the priority. Adequate compensation would be given to the affected farmers,he added.

Ex-gratia grant for 5 killed by lightening

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced ex-gratia grant of Rs1 lakh each for the kin of five persons killed after being struck by lightening on Saturday evening. He also directed the concerned deputy commissioners to instruct district health authorities to extend all possible help and to provide free treatment to the injured.