CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government said today that loss caused to crops due to divesting floods was in the neighborhood of Rs 300 corer.

Reacting to a statement by the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr. Bhajan Lal, that the loss of crops in the State due to floods was not much, the additional Chief Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Manohar Singh Gill, told newsmen here that according to preliminary estimates, the damage was of the order of Rs 112 corer as regards paddy alone.

Nearly 9 percent of the total expected rice production of 58 lakh tones in Punjab had been damaged. The rice procurement, therefore, might not exceed the 53 lakh tons mark this year.

Similarly, cotton, pulses and maize crops had suffered extensive damage, estimated at around Rs 115 corers. Besides, 84 percent of the sunflower crop had been damaged. Over 66 percent of toria crop had also been destroyed. The figure did not include the damage caused to the infrastructure of agriculture in the State. Flood waters had inundated countless number of tractors, threshers, tube wells and other agricultural facilities which would come to light in due course.

Mr. Gill again emphasized that because of the high losses suffered by the Punjab farmers, the Government of India must come to the aid of the growers by enhancing the level of moisture in paddy from 18 to 22 percent. This was the only immediate way the Centre could compensate the Punjab farmers to. some extent.

A former Chief Minister, Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala, said the floods in Punjab were the most devastating in living memory. There was an expectation of a bumper crop this season. But these hopes: had been shattered. One third of the cropped area in the State had come under flood water. There had been a total loss of the standing crops in several lakh hectares and up to 50 per cent loss in other flood affected areas.

A rough estimate by experts of PAU conservatively put the figure of loss at Rs 500 corer. Mr. Barnala regretted that when the suffering people of Punjab were waiting for succor and relief, they suffered a heavy blow from Mr. Bhajan Lal, who after paying a flying visit to the State declared that the floods would prove to be a boon to the farmers.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 14, 1988