Kharar, October 31
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal today asked Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi to review the meagre compensation being offered to cotton growers whose entire crop had been destroyed by pink bollworm.
He said it was shocking that the Congress government was offering most of them only partial compensation, even though their crop had been completely destroyed by the pest. “Farmers have been demanding compensation at the rate of Rs 50,000 per acre but the Congress government is offering a meagre relief of only Rs 2,000 for up to 35 per cent crop damage and Rs 5,400 for up to 75 per cent damage.
“The government is also trying to limit all farmers in this bracket by stating that there was only partial damage to the cotton crop. This effectively means that even the meager compensation of Rs 12,000 per acre for 100 per cent crop damage will not be available to farmers.”
Sukhbir said even farm labourers had been given a poor deal. “The government has played fraud on the farm labourers. We ask the government to give a flat financial assistance of Rs 15,000 per acre,” he said. — TNS
Pink bollworm: Revise meagre relief, Akalis urge Punjab CM Channi
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