Abhay demands ₹25,000 per acre relief for farmers
CHANDIGARH: Leader of opposition in Haryana assembly Abhay Singh Chautala on Friday demanded that farmers be paid Rs 25,000 per acre minimum compensation on account of damage to their crops due to the recent spell of rain.
Addressing a press conference here, Chautala also asked the state government to waive the interest on farm loans for the current year.
He accused the government of making farmers run from pillar to post for claiming crop insurance.
Criticizing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader said the scheme has only benefited the insurance companies.
He also criticised the BJP government in the state for its “antipeople policies” stating that the latest in the series of such measures is the irrational increase in the rates for the registration of non-testamentary documents relating to immovable property.
‘IRREGULARITIES IN PURCHASE OF POWER CABLES’
Alleging irregularities in the purchases made under the Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon, Deen Dyal Upadhaya Gramin Jyoti Yojna and Integrated Power Distribution System (IPDS), Chautala claimed distribution cables in seven districts have been found substandard.
“But instead of putting the purchasing authority and the quality control authority in the dock, the government has issued orders to make recovery from the contractors who installed the cables,’’ he alleged.
Chautala also targeted chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, saying he is not in control of the administration since his orders are not being carried out by the officials.
“It has been years since the pillar-box scams of meters was unearthed. But despite the orders of the chief minister, no action has been taken against the officials concerned. Only seven officials were suspended and later reinstated,’’ he alleged.
BJP DEFENDS
Reacting to Chautala’s allegations of inaction against officials for the purchase of substandard cables, BJP leader Jawahar Yadav said seven executive engineers (XENs) and four sub-divisional officers (SDOs) were charge-sheeted for major penalty in the matter. “The entire payment to be made to the contractors has been withheld. There was no financial loss either to the state government or Haryana power utilites,’’ Yadav said.