Vidarbha MLAs create ruckus over Agri minister’s apathy: Paddy issue

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pandurang fundkar
Nagpur: Rajesh Kashiwar MLA and more than 12 other MLAs raised the issue of damage to paddy crop due to change in climate and pests in paddy regions of Vidarbha like Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Chandrapur and Gondia.

Replying to this Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar said in 2017-18 the paddy was grown in total 714425 hectare that is under Nagpur division Nagpur-82676 ha, Bhandara 154324 ha, Gondia 143102, Chandrapur 151555ha, Gadchiroli 182750 ha. Out of these in farms the paddy crop was damaged.

In Gondia district from June to October 2017there was just 758.30 mm rainfall as compared to 1412.70. Due to this as per government decision on Oct 30 Gondia districts -Gondia Tirora and Goregaon tehsils were declared drought affected. As per the Prime Minister’s crop insurance scheme, in State the crop insurance scheme benefit is being given to natural calamities like lightning floods, hailstorm, drought, cyclone, scanty rainfall, fire, damage before sowing, weather based crop insurance scheme etc. Letter has been written to centre for personal inquiry, where the sowing has not been done there too the revenue department has been asked to survey and after that they would be given aid. For personal inquiry the centre has given permission on gram panchayat level.

Angry over the Agriculture Minister neglect the parties from VIdarbha created ruckus before the Assembly speaker. When the uproar creating members did not listen the speaker adjourned the working for ten minutes. Once again when the working in the house began the opposition leaders demanded that bonus on paddy per quintal and for crop damage Rs 10,000 per hectare. Gondia MLA demanded that the district be declared drought affected.

Agriculture Minister Fundkar said that as per the opposition demand before assembly ends a meeting would be called, in which decision would be taken and aid would be given.