OppositionCongress created uproar in the Chhattisgarh Assemblytoday demanding speedy compensation to the drought-affected farmers in the state.
Congress MLAs were suspended after they trooped into the Well of the House following a comment made against them by state Revenue Minister Prem Prakash Pandey on the issue. However, their suspension was revoked later.
Senior Congress MLAs Satyanarayan Sharma, state party chief Bhupesh Bahgel and Dhanendra Sahu raised the issue of "delay" in disbursing compensation to drought-hit farmers through a Call Attention Motion notice.
"As many as 96 tehsils of 21 districts were declared drought-hit (in the kharif season). At least 11,04,767 farmers belonging to 11,297 villages are bearing the brunt of drought," Congress members said.
After the crop failure, the affected farmers are worried about paying their debts.
"The state government has assured to provide economic assistance to farmers and waiver of land revenue taxes. But surprisingly, the government has been covering only those farmers under the compensation measure, who have lost their 33 per cent or above crops," they said.
They alleged that so far no relief work has been initiated in the drought-hit areas, as a result of which villagers are migrating to other states in search of jobs.
"Besides, the affected farmers are also not getting benefit of crop insurance schemes," the Congress legislators said.
Baghel also alleged that so far not a single penny has been given to farmers as compensation against their crop loss.
In his reply, Pandey said, in 2017, the state had received an average rainfall of 873.7 mm as on September 12, which was 12.8 per cent less as compared to the average rainfall for the last 10 years.
"In view of the shortfall in rains, 96 tehsils were declared drought-hit and revenue taxes in the affected areas were waived," he said.
The state government has allocated a sum of Rs 546.88 crore to the district collectors to provide compensation to the affected farmers and Rs 329.84 crore have been disbursed so far, he said adding that the distribution of compensation is underway.
"All the divisional commissioners and district collectors have been directed to immediately provide compensation to farmers of drought-affected tehsils, who have lost over 33 per cent of crops, the minister said.
Jobs have been generated under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act scheme for villagers in every districts, he said.
Under Prime Minister Crop Insurance scheme and weather-based crop insurance scheme, the state government had completed crop insurance of 13.16 lakh farmers. The assessment of claims against crop loss is underway and collectors have been directed to take necessary action in this direction, he said.
However, not satisfied with the minister's reply, the Congress members staged a walkout in the House.
In the meantime, Pandey made a remark against them after which the Congress legislators rushed to the Well of the House and were automaticallysuspended.
Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal, however, later revoked their suspension.
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