4 killed due to rains; Rabi crop loss to be assessed: Raj Govt

Four persons were killed in rain, hailstorm and lightening related mishaps in the state besides heavy damage incurred on Rabi crops in the last three days, Rajasthan government said.
'Girdwari' (assessment) would be conducted in at least 20 districts affected by squall (heavy rains and hailstorm) within 15 days by Collectors and the report would be brought before the end of this Assembly session, the Minister Incharge G C Kataria said in Rajasthan Assembly today .
The crop damage and compensation will be assessed only after the Girdwari (assessment) is completed, National Disaster and Calamity Relief Fund (NDCRF) will cover crops damaged above 50 per cent, he added.

The issue of crop damages in their respective constituencies was raised by members cutting across party lines in the Zero Hour including Bhanwar Singh, Sukhram Vishnoi, Dheeraj Gurjar (all Congress) and few BJP members like Chandrakanta Meghwal.
Two persons died in Bikaner, one person died in Churu and Jaisalmer each due to lightening and rain related mishaps in two days due to rains on February 28 and March 2, Kataria said, adding scores of cattle also perished in parts of the state.
As per initial assessments Rabi crops including wheat, barley, mustard, zeera (cumin) and isabgol feared damage due to heavy rains and hailstorm from 10 to 50 per cent in at least 20 districts including Bikaner, Jhalawar, Nagaur, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Bundi, Churu, Chittorgarh, Dausa, Jalore, Jaipur, Tonk districts, he said.

All these districts experienced rainfall above 25 mm and would be covered either under NDCFR or the Crop insurance schemes, he added.
Intervening in the debate, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister P Saini said that over 20 districts were short listed in the rain and hailstorm affected category and the state government would provide all possible assistance, compensation and relief to farmers after final crop damage assessment in the state.