₹656.62 cr. crop insurance claims released for farmers in Kalaburagi, says Minister

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has said that the State government has released ₹656.62 crore crop insurance claims for crops damaged during 2024-25 kharif season in Kalaburagi district.

Of this, the first installment of crop insurance ₹364.70 crore has been transferred to bank accounts of farmers. And, the Finance Department has released the balance ₹291.92 crore. Steps will be taken to ensure that the amount is credited to the bank accounts of farmers by next week, he said.

Speaking to presspersons here on Wednesday, Mr. Kharge said that 2.04 lakh farmers in Kalaburagi district have insured their kharif crops, including red gram, black gram, green gram, cotton and soya.

The Minister lauded the efforts of officials from Agriculture, Horticulture and Revenue departments for creating awareness among farmers about the importance of availing themselves of crop insurance.

He reiterated that a total of ₹656.62 crore towards crop insurance claims has been approved for the 2.04 lakh insured farmers across the district and the second tranche of ₹291.92 crore will be deposited into bank accounts of farmers next week.

Crop damage

According to preliminary survey, kharif crops standing on 1.05 hectares have suffered damage in the district. Mr Kharge said that directions have been given to officials concerned to carry out hobli and village-level crop surveys in the next 10 days after which records will be uploaded onto the portal of the Revenue Department. He appealed to farmers to provide crop damage details.

Responding to a question why he did not bother to visit rain-affected agricultural fields, Mr. Kharge said that he was away on an international visit for official as well as private work. Even then he chaired a video conference with officials and took stock of the situation, he added.

BJP in Maddur

Reacting to a BJP delegation to riot-hit Maddur, Mr. Kharge said that the BJP’s intention is to disturb communal harmony.

The Minister asked BJP leaders, whose children, he said, are studying in foreign universities, to bring them back to India and leave them on the streets of Maddur.

Ridiculing the conduct of BJP leaders in the matter, Mr. Kharge said that the saffron party leaders have now shifted their focus from Mangaluru to Maddur, as they have no work to do right now. So, they have engaged themselves in disturbing the social fabric, he claimed.

Sharing details, he said that 22 people have been arrested in connection with the Maddur incident and investigation is going on.

Mr. Kharge slammed the BJP leaders for not attending the peace meeting at Maddur following the stone-throwing incident during the Ganesh idol immersion procession.

He said that the Central University of Karnataka in Kalaburagi has turned into an RSS camp and accused the university administration of turning the campus into an RSS Shakha.

CM coming

The Minister confirmed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will participate in the Kalyana Karnataka Utsav here on September 17. He will reach Kalaburagi in the evening on September 16. On September 17, the Chief Minister will hoist the National Flag to mark the liberation of Kalyana Karnataka from the Hyderabad Nizam and also attend a private programme before leaving here in the afternoon.