Punjab demands Rs 7,410-cr drought aid from Centre

Punjab today demanded a special package of Rs 7,410 crore from the Centre to fight a drought-like situation in the state. The package includes Rs 4,400 crore for increase of Rs 400 a quintal in the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy, Rs 1,100 crore as drought relief for paddy and cotton, Rs 1,420 crore for Punjab State Electricity Board to compensate it for diversion of 3,500 million units of power to the agriculture sector from industrial, commercial and domestic paying sectors, Rs 440 crore to raise by Rs 400 a quintal in the MSP of cotton and Rs 50 crore for increase of Rs 100 a quintal in the MSP of maize.

The state also demanded that the MSP for paddy be immediately revised to Rs 1,400 a quintal for fine grade and Rs 1,350 for the common grade variety. A delegation of SAD-BJP MPs and MLAs led by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar to press these demands.

In a detailed memorandum, the SAD-BJP leaders also drew the Centre’s attention to major damage suffered by maize and cotton growers because of alarming shortfall in rain during the sowing season. They demanded a separate relief package.

Later, talking to newspersons, Badal said the Centre had assured them of taking a “positive view” of the hardships being faced by the state and its farmers. “The central government should immediately announce relief package, not only to save the beleaguered farmers of Punjab but to safeguard the crucial national interest on food security,” he said.