In view of the widespread damage to crops caused by unseasonal rain across the state, Uttar Pradesh government has decided to compensate even those farmers who suffered losses between 25 and 50%. An order to the effect was received here on Wednesday. The DM has ordered revenue officials to conduct a fresh survey to assess damage to crops in the district. The assessment report is to be submitted to the state government by March 31.

Earlier, only those farmers who had suffered over 50% crop damage were to receive compensation.

Additional district magistrate (finance and revenue) Alok Singh told that in compliance with the government order, the DM has directed all SDMs, tehsildars and other revenue officials to undertake the assessment of damages on a warfooting as the report has to be ready by March 31. Moreover the assessment should be completed as wheat procurement will commence from April 1. Once the wheat is harvested, it would not be possible to make the assessment.

When asked about the method of assessment to be adopted by the revenue staff, the ADM said the percentage of loss would be assessed by clubbing the damaged parts of the field in proportion of the total field area. He said that there was no other scientific method of making the assessment. The ADM said the administration would make efforts that the survey was being carried out to the satisfaction of farmers to ensure transparency by revenue staff.

The ADM said that the amount of compensation to be awarded to affected farmers would be at the rate of Rs 9,000 per hectare as was applicable to over 50% crop damage. He said the amount of compensation against the fresh survey would be provided to the district in the next financial year as the current year would close on March 31.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/