Punjab seeks Rs 800 cr package

The state also sought 1000 mw additional power allocation from the Central pool in lieu of extra money being spent by the state government on purchase of power for the agriculture sector besides additional cost of diesel borne by farmers for irrigation of paddy crop, in view of "deficient and erratic monsoon."

Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister and President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Singh Badal said the state government has approached Prime Minster Manmohan Singh, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to immediately come to the aide of Punjab farmers to enable them to fulfill their commitment to make country secure on food security front.

He said 70 per cent deficient rains in the month of June and July in Punjab was the cause of concern for the state government as farmers of the were contributing more than 50 per cent paddy to Central pool.

Any failure of crop could have a bearing on the nation's food security, Badal warned in a statement here.

He said Powercom, the power utility of Punjab government, was making all efforts to procure power for the agriculture sector even at exorbitant rates with the single purpose of supplying sufficient power to the farming sector in the paddy sowing season.

"Moreover, Punjab farmers are spending a fortune on diesel for purchase of pumps just to ensure that the paddy sown by them doesn't wither away due to a deficient monsoon.

Powercom has purchased power worth Rs 6556 crore and farmers had to incur additional cost on diesel and it was imperative for the Union Government to compensate the Punjab government and farmers by sanctioning interim relief of Rs 800 crore as first instalment," he said. (MORE)