Crop Damage in 2019 Floods; Farmers yet to be compensated

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Call it lethargy on the part of the State administration or the lack of political will, thousands of Assam farmers who had suffered huge losses due to the damage of their crops by floods in 2019, are yet to get compensation. Such inordinate delays in paying compensation to flood-affected farmers have been regular affairs in the State.

Most of these farmers had to take bank loans and loans from the market for cultivation. A moot question: Why can’t the State government device a mechanism for early release of compensation to the flood-affected farmers?

The compensation to farmers for damage of crops by floods goes up to Rs 40-50 crore on an average, and the amount goes up when there are severe floods. For example in 2017, the amount for compensation to the farmers for damage of crops was as high as Rs 80 crore.

According to official sources, delay in sending the assessed compensation amounts to Dispur by some of the districts has led to the delay in the payment of compensation to the farmers. The executive committee at Dispur headed by the Chief Secretary finalizes the amount for compensation to farmers. However, sometimes the meeting is held late, delaying the payment.

According to official data, 39 per cent of the total area of the State is flood-prone. In 2019, 2.14 lakh hectares of agricultural and horticultural land was affected by floods, damaging around 5,000 hectares of croplands.

According to the State government’s manual, the rates of compensation to farmers are: Rs 1,200 per hectare for de-silting, Rs 13,500 per hectare for damage of crops in irrigated areas, Rs 4,800 per hectare of eri, mulberry and tussar and Rs 6,000 for per hectare of muga.

The compensation through the PM’s Fasal Bima Yojona is a meagre amount; and as such the farmers largely rely on the compensation from the State government.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal often reviews the progress of works of various departments, and if he lays stress on the early release of compensation to the farmers, the farmers of the State may get succour… But will he?

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