Relief for hail-hit within a week, says divisional commissioner

NAGPUR: Divisional commissioner Anup Kumar has admitted that monetary relief as part of compensation package declared by the government was yet to reach a large number of the hailstorm-affected farmers in the district and the entire division. He also assured the relief distribution would be completed this week.

The divisional commissioner said in a release hailstorm during February end and early March had hit crops and fruit orchards in a big way in four districts of Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara and Chandrapur and to a minor extent in Gondia and Gadchiroli districts. Of the 2.05 lakh farmers who suffered damages, 1.50 lakh were from the worst-hit Nagpur district.

Giving details of the aid distributed from the Rs 4,000 crore special package announced by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in March, Kumar said till April 19, as many as 81,640 farmers had been handed over the relief-cheques for a total value of Rs 71.41 crore. He said the government had disbursed Rs 100 crore and the remaining amount would be distributed within a week.

Last week, BJP MLA from Kamptee Chandrashekhar Bawankule had alleged that the aid amount had reached bank accounts of less than 5000 farmers though 1.5 lakh were affected in the district. He had threatened a mass agitation if all those affected were not covered this week. The government has now admitted relief has been given till date to 42,748 farmers in Nagpur district and total amount deposited in their bank accounts was Rs 50 crore.

While assuring that the court and the election officials had given approval to aid distribution despite the election code of conduct in force for Lok Sabha polls, Kumar pointed out that in several cases the beneficiary bank details were not available with the local area's talathi office. In some cases of joint land holding, NOC of all the title holders is needed. These documents should be submitted without delay to the talathi so as to expedite relief disbursement.