Claiming that extensive crop damage has been caused by the cyclonic storm in Bihar last week, former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today asked the state government to carry out a survey for distribution of compensation to the affected farmers.
"During my visit to Purnia and adjoining districts, I found extensive crop damage due to cyclonic storm," he told reporters.
Stating that the affected people were restive at delay in payment of compensation for their crop loss and damage to their houses in the natural calamity, Modi asked the state to immediately carry out survey works for assessment of destruction and give compensation to people sans any delay.
Regretting that the state failed to deposit its share of premium to the insurers for crop insurance for the farmers, the former deputy chief minister asked the state government to do so on an immediate basis so that the affected farmers could get insurance for their extensive crop damage.
Alleging corruption by local officials in distribution of ex-gratia to the kins of those killed in cyclonic storm and relief materials to the unsheltered people in storm-hit districts, the senior BJP leader asked the state government to look into the matter and depute a 'special district magistrate' to supervise relief and rehabilitation work in other storm-affected areas.
Referring to devastation due to earthquake in Bihar, the former deputy chief minister said both Centre and state governments were working in tandem to provide succour to the affected people in the state as well as thousands from the state who were stranded at various points in Nepal.
He said that the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Shashatra Seema Bal (SSB) set up six relief camps in Raxaul, located near the Indo-Nepal Border, to provide relief and medical facilities to those being evacuated from the neighbouring country which has been hit hard by the quake.
Special trains have been arranged to bring back large number of people evacuated from Nepal through Raxaul base, Modi said, adding that he has requested Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to make travel free for the evacuees upto their native places.
