Cong, INLD demand immediate special 'girdwari' to assess crop damage

The Opposition Congress and Indian National Lok Dal Friday demanded the BJP government order a special 'girdwari' without further delay to assess damage caused to crops due to heavy rains.

Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda said heavy rains in the state between September 22 and 24 and then again on October 11 caused crop damage at many places, but the government was holding back from ordering special 'girdwari' or revenue survey to assess the damage.

Many parts of the state were lashed by rains and hailstorm Thursday.

"The rains have caused damage to crops. Why is the government holding back from ordering a special 'girdwari'? The government only has to give record of crop damage and most of the payment for the loss will be borne by private insurance companies, to whom the farmers pay premium under the crop insurance scheme.

"My charge is the government is deliberately not ordering the survey under the pressure of these companies," Hooda told reporters here.

Addressing a separate news conference here, INLD senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala said his party would start an agitation if the government fails to order a special 'girdwari' and pay suitable compensation to the affected farmers.

He also claimed the government was paying less MSP on paddy citing "higher moisture content in the crop".

"This injustice being done to farmers in the name of moisture cut will not be tolerated," he said.

Both the leaders separately toured some 'mandis' and visited fields of farmers affected by Thursday's rains and hailstorm.