Hooda seeks Rs 4050 crore to compensate farmers

 by Haryananewswire (Balbir)

CHANDIGARH, AUG 10

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today sought a financial assistance of Rs 4050 crore from the Central Government to compensate the farmers in view of drought like conditions prevailing in the State.

          The Chief Minister, who was addressing a press conference here today said that he had made this demand during his meeting with Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar and Union Rural Development Minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh, who were here to review the drought situation in Haryana. Mr Hooda said that both of them assured him to consider the demand of the State Government.

Mr Hooda said that during the meeting Mr. Jairam Ramesh announced to give Haryana Rs. 230 crores for drinking water purposes and watershed management  and apart from this he announced to give an additional budget of 30 per cent  under MANREGA.

          Mr Hooda said that  deficiency of rainfall in Haryana is severest in the country  and the situation of deficit rainfall is worst in this year as compared to  last 10 years. Haryana is worst affected as the state is deficit in the rainfall to the extent of 70 per cent and this has caused severe distress to the farmers in terms of less sowing as well as additional expenditure to save their crops. There is a great challenge before the farmers and the state to maintain standing crops.He said that credit goes to the farmers of Haryana that inspite of the drought like conditions they are maintaining standing crops by additional care and expenditure.

Mr Hooda said that so far the State has provided extra electricity to the agriculture sector to the tune of 8800 lakh units at an estimated cost of Rs. 610 crore. Increased quantity of power supply to agriculture sector is to be continued. He said that no significant rainfall is expected during the rest of the monsoon season.

          Mr Hooda said that for the kharif season (May to October) 17,000 lakh units of power are to be supplied to agriculture sector at a cost of Rs. 1500 crores. We have provided extra electricity to the farming sector without bothering about the financial burden. Therefor, we requested the Union Ministers to help Haryana in getting additional electricity and also compensate the State towards the extra cost to the tune of Rs. 1500 crores.He said that the farmers have to use diesel engines for which either diesel subsidy be provided or farmers be compensated by declaring bonus.

Mr Hooda said that the farmers also need to be provided atleast bonus of Rs. 200 per quintal for paddy and Rs. 100 per quintal for other crops on account of the extra cost incurred by them and towards the loss caused to them. The Union Ministers were in agreement that sufficient bonus needs to be declared for which decision is to be taken in next few days.

Mr Hooda said that for making available green fodder, fodder management system is being put in place so that from the farmers who have sown more green fodder in their farms, green fodder can be procured and further supplied to the deficit areas.He said that import duty on oil cakes has been waived off as informed by Mr. Sharad Pawar.

He said that the State Government has demanded compensation for the enhanced cost of cultivation, unsown area and other support measures for the agriculture sector, amounting to Rs. 1100 crores.To meet the distress caused to the farmers there is a need to give them relief in interest burden on crop loans.The farmers also needed to be given relief in interest on crop loans to the tune of Rs. 700 crores as we have converted short term loans into long term loans.

The Chief Minister said that Mr. Jairam Ramesh has assured to give Haryana Rs. 160 crores for drinking water purposes and to release Rs. 115 crore immediately. The Union Minister also assured to give about Rs. 70 crores for watershed management in Desert Development Programme (DDP) districts.He said that 30 per cent additional budget for MNREGA has been declared by Mr. Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister for Rural Development.

Mr Hooda said that he was grateful to both the Union Ministers for understanding the problems of the farmers and he was sure they would be sympathetic and liberal in providing assistance to the State.

The Chief Minister also expressed happiness It is also happy occasion that now it was raining in the State.

          Chief Secretary, Mr.P.K.Chaudhery, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr Chhatar Singh, Additional Principal Secretary to Chgief Minister Dr K.K.Khandelwal, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue, Mr Raj Kumar and other senior officers of the State Government were present on the occasion.