The district revenue officials in Ropar are all set to disburse the compensation among farmers who faced loss of their maize crop following pest attack. The farmers in the district have been protesting for more than four months against the Congress government in the state over their demand to get adequate compensation for the crop loss. 

The revenue officials claimed that the process to collect the complete details of the farmers' bank accounts was underway and soon the compensation would be disbursed into their accounts. However, this has irked the rival parties and their candidates, who had termed the disbursement of compensation at this time as an act to lure the voters. 

Ropar District Revenue Officer (DRO) Gurjinder Singh revealed that a total fund of Rs 3.42 crores has been received to be disbursed among the farmers as compensation for their crop loss. The revenue officials have found a total of 6,096 acres of land where maize crop was affected due to pest attack. The maize crop was affected in a total of 5,711 acres in villages under Anandpur Sahib division that received Rs 3.17 crores as compensation amount, whereas, Nangal division received Rs 17.44 lakh as compensation amount for crop loss in 323 acres, Ropar division received Rs 6.85 lakh for crop loss in 58 acres and Chamkaur Sahib division got Rs 28000 for loss recorded in only two acres of land, according to revenue officials.

SDM Anandpur Sahib Keshav Goyal, said, "The funds were received from the state government before imposition of code of conduct and the same have been transferred to the concerned Tehsildars for further disbursal to the beneficiaries. But, we have sought a legal opinion from the higher officials that if compensation can be disbursed during the model code of conduct". Manjit Singh, Tehsildar of Anadpur Sahib said, "We are collecting the details of all the beneficiaries and would soon disburse the compensation into their accounts”.

The farmer unions are divided on the view over compensation being given could lure the farm voters but said the affected farmers should be given the appropriate compensation. 

BKU Ekta-Ugrahan General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokarikalan said, “No doubt the government, in attempt to woo the voters, delayed in giving compensation for crop-damage so that the compensation may reach the farmers near elections." 

Veer Singh, leader of Kirti Kisan Morcha said, "farmers would not be lured or impressed by the government as we had to protest for a long time on the roads to get the compensation."

Source - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com