CHANDIGARH, OCT 17: The Punjab government today sounded a red alert to deal with the crisis in the farm sector because of the untimely rains. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal got in touch with Prime Minister A B Vajpayee urging him to initiate ``immediate remedial measures'' to cushion the crippling impact of what he called an ``unspeakable natural disaster.'' Badal called for relief to farmers in the form of deferment of loans and bonus on paddy and cotton besides soft bank loans and comprehensive crop insurance schemes. He spoke to Union Food Minister Surjit Singh Barnala and said he had asked him to raise the issue with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to ensure massive and prompt relief. But farmers are not only blaming the rains, they are also accusing rice millers of conniving with authorities to keep the prices low. At several places in the Khanna-Samrala-Sirhind belt The Indian Express visited today, most of the purchases were at prices below the minimum support price.Officials,however, argue that the paddy is discoloured and is below specifications because of its higher moisture content. Farmers say they want compensation for the difference between the minimum support price and the price at which they have had to sell the produce.
