Upload crop damage reports on e-Kshatipurti portal by Sunday: Haryana Dy CM to farmers

While addressing a press conference in Chandigarh Saturday, Dushyant, who also holds the revenue and disaster portfolio, said: “Farmers in several regions of Haryana experienced crop loss owing to unseasonal rainfall and hail storms from March 24 to April 3… Last year, the e-Kshatipurti portal was created by the state government, on which the farmers were given the facility to upload their crop loss reports. So far, the data of loss pertaining to about 16.83 lakh acre has been uploaded by farmers. Based on reports uploaded by the farmers of Charkhi Dadri, Jind, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Kaithal, Sonipat, more than one lakh acre of crops has been reported damaged.”

“It is the harvesting season and 1.65 lakh metric tonne of wheat has reached the mandis. In order to get an accurate assessment of the loss, the state government has decided to engage kshatipurti sahayaks in addition to revenue officials, patwaris, kanungos, deputy commissioners, etc. These khastipurti sahayaks (compensation assistants) will also assist the patwaris… These compensation assistants will be given Rs 5,000 for carrying out the work of girdawari (crop damage assessment) on a block spanning 500 acre. Apart from taking photos on mobile phones, these compensation assistants should have computer knowledge, they will be appointed by the deputy commissioner concerned,” Dushyant added.

“According to the rules of the state government, compensation is given up to Rs 9,000 for 25 to 50 per cent damage, Rs 12,000 for 75 per cent damage, and Rs 15,000 per acre for 100 per cent damage. This time, the task of distributing compensation from the ‘State Disaster Relief Fund’ would begin as soon as the report is prepared at the district level, rather than waiting for the report to be prepared at the state level. The report of general girdawari has been received by the state government, in which it has been noted that crops have been damaged in 13 districts…” the deputy CM said.

“In the wake of the crop damage caused due to rainfall and hailstorms, I had also sent a DO letter to Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Mr Piyush Goyal requesting some relaxation in the moisture content of wheat. After this, a team from the Union government conducted a survey and I am hopeful that the Centre will provide some relaxation to the farmers,” Dushyant said.

Government to pay 9% interest to farmers in case of delay in payments

“During Kharif procurement this time, the state government will follow the pattern of transferring payment directly to the bank accounts of farmers within 48-72 hours. If there is a delay in the payment, the amount will be paid along with 9 per cent interest,” Dushyant Chautala said.

Interacting with media persons, he added: “About 408 grain markets have been set up for procurement of wheat, 102 for mustard, 11 for pulses, and 25 for barley in the state. So far, about 1.5 lakh metric tonne of wheat has reached grain markets, out of which 18,000 metric tonne has been procured. Last year, various government agencies procured 67 lakh metric tonne of wheat. Although there has been crop damage due to hail storms this year, the same amount is expected to be procured. The state government has made adequate arrangements for the procurement of 76 lakh metric tonne of wheat.”

Haryana’s revenue consistently increasing: Dushyant

“Revenue of the state government is consistently increasing. During the year 2019-20, the government received Rs 6,100 crore as stamp-duty revenue. Despite revenue estates being closed for four months during the Covid-19 crisis, the stamp duty collected during the year 2020-21 is Rs 5,134 crore, Rs 8,490 crore in the year 2021-22, and Rs 10,395 crore in the year 2022-23…” Dushyant said.