Directives issued for fair assessment of damage to standing and harvested crops due to hailstorm

Bhopal: Chief Minister of the Central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed the official machinery to conduct immediate survey assessment of damage to standing and harvested crops due to the hail storm last week.

The chief minister said that state government stands by farmers in this hour of crisis. He would himself visit the hail-hit areas from March 18 onwards. According to information received from different parts fo the State, over 1000 villages in 15 districts have suffered heavy crop damage.

Chouhan will visit will the affected villages in Neemuch, Mandsaur, Ujjain, Shajapur and Rajgarh districts on March 18.

At a high-level meeting late Monday evening, the Chief Minister reviewed the extent of damage to crops. he passed clear instructions that the survey to assess crop damage should produce accurate figures. He underscored the Government’s stand saying that it will stand by the farmers in this hour of crisis and other works would even be suspended to extend timely relief to farmers.

The meeting was informed that mainly crops of wheat and gram along with isabgol and coriander have suffered damage in affected villages. All these crops will be included in compensation.

Chief Secretary Anthony de Sa, Principal Secretary to chief Minister S.K. Mishra and otehr senior officers were present at the meeting