Return
to Story Page
To print: Select File and then Print from your
browser's menu
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
October 20: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has demanded a relief package of Rs 300 crore from the Centre for the state's paddy and cotton growers who had suffered heavy losses due to the recent unseasonal rains.
Badal, who had a meeting with the Prime Minister in this connection here, told reporters that farmers had suffered losses of more than Rs 1,000 crore.
He said if the Punjab farmers were not compensated adequately for their crop loss, the nation would face a severe food crisis. A Punjab government spokesman said Badal stressed at the meeting that inclement weather and continuous rains throughout the state since October 15 had led to massive damage to both harvested as well as standing crop of paddy.
He said despite best efforts of the state government the remaining stock of unsold or unprocured paddy to the tune of 40 lakh MT might be damaged to such an extent that they would not be purchased by the government agencies and rice millers because of strict quality specifications imposedby the food ministry.
The situation, Badal said, had become quite alarming because farmers were becoming restless and if left to the mercy of the market forces, they would be losing crores of rupees.
The Chief Minister said Punjab is a major foodgrains producing state which contributes 40 per cent paddy, 60 per cent wheat and 22 per cent cotton towards the national pool. The state needs special treatment and incentives for its foodgrain contribution.
Badal said the Prime Minister and the Union Food Minister gave a patient hearing to his team and assured him that the Centre would take a decision in a day or so on the relief package for Punjab farmers.
Badal also demanded that specification for procurement of rice from mills should be relaxed and stock of rice damaged due to rains should be allowed to be purchased by procuring agencies.
The Chief Minister was accompanied at the meeting by state Food and Supplies Minister Madan Mohan Mittal, Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh and senior state governmentofficials. Union Minister for Food Surjit Singh Barnala, FCI managing director S S Dawra and joint secretary food K M Sahni were also present during the discussion.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
------------------------------------------------------------