Unseasonal rain: RS members demand package for UP farmers

NEW DELHI: Members in Rajya Sabha on Monday demanded a relief package for farmers whose standing wheat, pulses and vegetable crops in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi have been damaged by recent unseasonal rains and hailstorm.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, BJP and Samajwadi Party (SP) members urged the government to send a central team immediately to assess the crop loss.

Harnath Singh Yadav (BJP) said hailstorm and heavy rains in Uttar Pradesh in the last two days have damaged wheat, masoor and mango crops. Around 30 people were killed and thousands of trees and houses have been affected.

“I urge the government to send a central team to assess the damage and also instruct crop insurance companies to pay the claims,” he said.

Echoing his views, Samajwadi Party leader Rewati Raman Singh said untimely rains and hailstorm in Uttar Pradesh have affected most rabi crops and the government should provide compensation to farmers.

BJP leader Vijay Goel mentioned that farmers in Delhi have incurred losses due to damage to their wheat and other crops and the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government should release a compensation of Rs 60,000 per acre to each farmer.

“Wheat crop has been completely destroyed. In North, hailstorm and heavy rains have affected wheat and vegetable crops. There are about 50,000 farmers in Delhi. I request the Delhi government to pay a compensation of Rs 60,000 per acre,” Goel said in the Upper House of Parliament.

Raising issues related to Karnataka, JD-S leader D Kupendra Reddy brought to the notice of the Upper House the issue of pending court cases in the state.

He mentioned that the state has the highest number of pending court cases as there are about 18 lakh cases struck in various courts because of inadequate judicial officers.

“There is 36 per cent vacancy in high court, while 20 per cent in lower courts in the state . ... the need of the hour is to fill vacant posts and ensure speedy justice,” he added.

On proposed Bangalore suburban railway, Congress leader G C Chandrashekar urged the central government to release funds immediately and commence the work else cost will escalate if its implementation is delayed further.

He said the proposed project was announced in the last three budgets but no progress has been made yet in its implementation.

“If we don’t start now, the budget will double.

The government should act on this project immediately,” he added.

Raising issues related to Andhra Pradesh, V Vijaysai Reddy of YSRCP urged the government to expedite implementation of south coastal railway zone.

Expressing concern over malnutrition, MV Rajeev Gowda (Cong) suggested the government include a syllabus on nutrition in school books and better awareness about the issue.