Archit Watts
Tribune News Service
Muktsar, October 23
The special girdawari of cotton crop damaged due to pink bollworm has been completed in Muktsar, but senior officers in the district administration, who are “dissatisfied” over the figures submitted by patwaris, have now marked a re-verification.
A senior officer said the crop damage was assessed in 38 villages in Lambi block and a village in Gidderbaha block. “The cotton crop damage is negligible in two blocks — Malout and Muktsar. The farmers have picked cotton twice in these blocks, which suggests there is hardly any damage. However, the figures, which we have got from Lambi block, are to be re-verified. The fresh report of crop damage has been sought from other officers in the department,” said Balkaran Singh, district revenue officer, Muktsar.
Meanwhile, another senior officer said: “We have got the figures, but these are to be re-verified. Till then, we can’t divulge the details.”
Gurpreet Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, said: “Cotton was sown in 40,705 hectares in the district. However, we are yet to get the special girdawari report from the revenue department.” Cotton growers of five districts — Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka and Faridkot — are demanding Rs 60,000 per acre for the damage to their crop. Besides, they are demanding Rs 30,000 for every farm labourer. After protesting outside Finance Minister Manpreet Badal’s residence for 15 days, they will now protest outside the district administrative complex in Bathinda on October 25.
Pink bollworm: Girdawari of cotton crop done, but officers order re-check
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