Demands compensation of Rs 30,000 per acre for farmers whose crops and orchards have been destroyed
Says party disciplinary committee was being formed and anyone breaching discipline would not remain in the party
Abohar: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today demanded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government allocate special funds to provide immediate relief to thousands of farmers whose crops and orchards had been destroyed due to incessant rain besides taking effective measures to drain out flood waters from affected areas.
The SAD leader also volunteered and provided motor pumps and pipes to drain out water from fifteen villages in Lambi besides appealing to SAD workers to conduct a drive to spray insecticides in affected areas to spread the spread of diseases.
Mr Sukhbir Badal also announced that a disciplinary committee was being created in the SAD and that anyone breaching the party discipline would not remain in the SAD.
Expressing shock at the manner in which the AAP government had run away from fulfilling its duty towards the people in a moment of acute crisis, Mr Sukhbir Badal said despite the fact that six ministers and the chief minister himself visiting the district, special girdwari had not been initiated till yet. “I have talked to the administration and they have told me that no relief is being extended because no directions for the same have been received from the government”. He demanded that compensation at the rate of Rs 30,000 per acre be paid to all farmers whose crops and orchards had been destroyed due to heavy rain and resultant flood waters. He said contract farmers should be paid compensation of priority while citing the case of a contract farmer of Rukanpura-Khui Khera village who had lost standing crop on 60 acres of land.
Asserting that while farmers whose cotton and paddy crop had been destroyed besides those whose Kinnow orchards had been gutted, the labour force was also in dire straits. “Daily wagers have approached me and told me they do not have any work due to destruction of crops. The government must extend relief to them also”.
Mr Badal also lambasted the AAP government for failing to clean drains which had compounded the problem. He said even the Sem Nala which had been constructed in the area had not been cleaned and was a virtual jungle presently. He also cited the flooding of several areas in Abohar city which he said had happened because of corruption in laying of drainage and sewerage pipes under the leadership of former PCC president Sunil Jakhar.
Mr Badal said farmers of the area had still not received compensation for crop loss due to floods in 2020 and had now been dealt a double whammy. He said the old compensation due to farmers should be released immediately. “This attitude is in stark contrast to the term of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal who not only took up flood protection measures in advance but also released compensation immediately in the event of any calamity”.
