Oppn MLAs seek enhance relief amount in natural calamity

Opposition across party lines sought enhancement in relief amount in the natural  calamity to Agricultural and Horticultural produce terming provision the relief insufficient, a private Member resolution was moved in the Assembly by CPI(M) Rakesh Singha on Thursday.
On previous prib5 member day on Thursday Mr Singha introduce the resolution seeking  ‘frame a policy to grant relief amounting to 50 per cent of the loss incurred due to natural calamities on agricultural and horticultural produce and enhance the relief amount to Five Lacs on the destruction of the house due to fire’ discussed in the house today.
Revenue Minister Mohinder Singh Thakur said that cloud burst incident took place between August 14 to 15 ,2014-15 rendered heavy loss to the crops in Dharmshala and Dharmpur region if Kangra and Mandi district. He said that in crop loss insurance scheme being launched in the state but despite having premium installment from Farmers, state and central government insurance companies are not paying the refund equal to their total instalments. He said that Project affected areas are also facing natural disaster but farmers are not getting compensation promptly. He said in last monsoon total loss of Rs 1552.71 Cr occurred in the state. He said that loss of Rs 1834 Cr occurred between April 1 to Jan 31, 2022 and compensation of Rs 211.69 Cr were paid by the state relief funds. He said memorandum was moved with Centre assistance for loss of crops and houses and state received Rs 454 Cr for State disaster Program and national Disaster fund. He said under the existing agriculture relief manual maximum amount of Rs 12000  was being provided on the rate of Rs 200 per hectare. For land damage  loss maximum Rs 37500 was being provided on the rate of Rs 300 per hectare for 50 to 70 pc  loss and Rs 500 per hectare for more than 75 pc loss with capping of Rs 70000. Minister also said that jai Ram Thakur Government also include to compensate the loss render to the polyhouse and hail net structures in nature calamities’.
Speaking on the issue Rakesh Singha said that state could amend the its relief mannual which need state government commitment as very meagre amount being rendered in front of huge loss being incurred in fire and natural disaster. Congress member Jagat Singh Negi said that state government should allowed to pass this resolution. Mohan Lal Bragta and Rohit Thakur of Congress said that farmers were suffering huge losses due to cloud burst , hail storm and heavy snowfall but relief manual is very negligible.