Compensation in line for damaged crops
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 24 2024: An official of the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department has said that the Government is preparing to give some compensation to the farmers whose crops were damaged in the thunderstorm/ hailstorm of May 5 which swept through parts of Manipur.

He also said that the Government has identified 283 hectares (approx) of affected farmlands and the department is proposing to begin compensating the affected farmers from next month (June) .

Speaking to a group of media persons at Sanjenthong today, Additional Director of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Md Zakir Hussain said that the intense hailstorm/thunderstorm of May 5 left behind a trail of destruction at different places of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kangpokpi, Noney and Jiribam.

Saying that they carried out assessment drives from May 6 onwards at different places under the supervision of the Chief Minister and the Commissioner of Horticulture and Soil Conservation T Pamei and started collecting reports of the crop-loss, he added that horticulture crops planted at 283 hectares of farmland by 1006 farmers were found destroyed on May 5 as per all the reports collected.

He went on to state that the assessment drive was conducted from May 6 to May 10 and the report of the places which they couldn't cover were taken through the District Officers of Horticulture concerned.

About Rs 6 crore would be required to give some compensation to the farmers for the crop loss, he continued.

Saying that the amount of compensation will vary depending on the size and the scale of the damage, Md Zakir Hussain maintained that a proposal has been submitted to the Chief Minister to compensate the farmers.

The department is preparing to release the financial aid by June, he added.

Some of the common crops which were destroyed in the thunderstorm/hail-storm were U-morok, bottle gourd, watermelon, pumpkin, cabbage, Md Zakir Hussain added.

He said that they didn't collect the report of the crops damaged at residential places.

The compensation for crop-loss in storm, flood etc is to be given from disaster response fund, Md Zakir Hussain said.

Joint Director of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Yeite Koireng also attended the press briefing.

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