Farmers block road over crop damage in Bharatpur district

BHARATPUR: Hundreds of farmers blocked the state mega highway and the office of the Bharatpur district collector on Saturday with their damaged crops, shouting slogans and demanding compensation for their loss due to rain and hail.

The farmers who gathered at the collectorate handed over a memorandum to the district collector Nathmal Didel regarding the same. The farmers who blocked the state highway at four points eventually cleared out after the cabinet minister Vishvendra Singh assured and convinced them suitable relief.

Singh also held a press conference over the loss of crops. He said he visited as many as 18 villages on Saturday and intend to visit more villages under the subdivision of Deeg. He has requested the chief minister to offer a special package for the district. A crop damage of 80 to 100 percent was reported from these villages.

According to Singh, the government has started a survey to assess the damage. He alleged the BJP leaders are trying to misguide the farmers by encouraging them to block the road. I have asked the district collector to take legal action against them.

District collector Didel said the government has issued a directive to conduct a special survey within 15 days to assess crop loss due to hail. Officials from revenue,agriculture department and crops insurance teams are in the field to survey the damage.

Farmers leader Nem Singh said the district have lost entire crops due to hail and heavy rain. “We have gathered here to demand full compensation and we hope the three ministers from Bharatpur will help us in getting relief.” State health minister Dr Subhash Garg also visited the villages to assess the damage. He assured farmers that they will receive compensation.

GEHLOT TELLS MINISTERS TO VISIT HAILSTORM-HIT AREAS

JAIPUR:Chief minister Ashok Gehlot has asked his ministers to visit areas where crops have damaged due to recent rainfall and hailstorm in Rajasthan.

The ministers in charge of districts will visit the affected districts and meet farmers on Sunday. “The chief minister has directed the ministers to visit the affected areas on March 8,” according to a release.

“They will assess the situation and meet the farmers whose crops were damaged due to the hailstorm on March 4, 5 and 6,” the release said. HTC