Cong demands compensation for crops damaged in hailstorm

Congress today demanded compensation for the farmers whose crops, spread in nearly 10 lakh hectares of land in 27 districts of Maharashtra, were damaged in the hailstorm.
"As many as 17 people have lost their lives, and crops spread across nearly 10 lakh hectares of land were damaged in the hailstorm in 27 districts of Maharashtra," State Congress President Manikrao Thakre told reporters.
Addressing a press conference after leading a party delegation to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Thakre demanded a compensation of Rs 20,000 per hectare for loss of crop and Rs 50,000 per hectare for horticulture farmers.
The delegation also requested the Chief Minister for waiver of electricity bills of farmers for six months, waiver of crop loan and restructuring of loans.

About 17 persons have died and 900 cattle has been destroyed. Crop losses are on 9,40,000 hectare area and its estimated that the damages will be more than 15 lakh hectare, he added.
Thakre said Chavan will tour Marathwada and Vidarbha region from tommorrow to assess the damage.

When asked if the natural calamity would result in postponement of the elections in the state, Thakre said it was for the state government to decide.
"If the government feels relief work is being hampered, a request can be made for postponment. But, we do not think this situation will arise and the party has not made any such request. Chief Minister is in touch with the IMD on the weather update," he said.

Thakre said the party has asked all district unit presidents and office-bearers to assist the authorities in relief work.
"Chief Minister has told us that the party should refrain from politicising the natural calamity and focus on relief works. This is a calamity which has befallen on the state," he said, adding that the hailstorm was the first of its kind in 50 years.