Scindia unhappy with crop damage survey in M.P.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the State government’s survey of crops ravaged by rain and floods, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia has demanded a reassessment and “adequate compensation” for the affected farmers.

‘Stand with farmers’

“The State government will have to stand with the farmers in this hour of need. I am not satisfied with the preliminary survey,” he told farmers in Neemuch district.

Mr. Scindia’s statement comes a week after the government, based on a preliminary assessment, had pegged crop loss in 24 lakh hectares at ₹9,600 crore, and Law Minister P.C. Sharma had claimed ₹325 crore had already been disbursed to the affected farmers. Moreover, Chief Minister Kamal Nath had promised all the flood-affected complete relief by October 15, even if the Centre didn’t extend relief by then.

‘Complete relief’

Mr. Scindia said since the weather was clear now, a resurvey should be initiated. “Patwaris and tehsildars should visit fields to assess the actual damage and compensation should be paid accordingly.” Stating that it was his aim to get each affected individual complete relief, he added, “I believe there is 100% damage to every field in some areas. There is no need for a survey there.”

‘No colour of disaster’

“The colour of disaster is neither the colour of the Congress nor of the BJP. Therefore, every government should come forward to help farmers. There is no flood in Malwa, it’s a disaster. The Centre should extend relief immediately,” he said.

The affected should be extended relief at three levels — the State government, the crop insurance and the Centre, he added. He said the BJP should press the Centre to release the relief package for the State immediately.

Recently, factionalism within the party came to the fore with Forest Minister Umang Singhar accusing former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh of trying to destablise the government, and two Congress MLAs levelling corruption charge against Health Minister Tulsiram Silawat.

Source: The Hindu