Crop loss in around one lakh hectare in Dharwad district; Lad promises adequate Compensation

Labour Minister and district in charge for Dharwad Santosh Lad has said that incessant rains and consequent flooding had caused crop damages in around one lakh hectares (ha) of land in Dharwad district and steps would be taken to expedite the process of compensation disbursement.

Speaking to presspersons after visiting the rain affected villages of Annigeri and Hubballi taluk in Dharwad district on Saturday, Mr. Lad said that in four taluks of the district crop damages had been reported due to incessant rainfall and as per initial estimation around crops in one lakh hectares had been damaged.

The Minister said that green gram sown in around 80,000 hectares, black gram in around 6,000 ha, soybean in 7,000 ha, chilli in 565 ha, maize in 50 ha, onion in 425 ha and other crops had been damaged due to excess rainfall.

“Already the district administration, Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department have begun join survey and soon a proposal in this regard will be submitted to the State government. We will personally appeal to the Chief Minister to release adequate compensation to the farmers at the earliest,” he said.

The Minister said that incessant rainfall had resulted in partial damages to 148 houses in the district and a compensation of ₹ 1.20 lakh would be given to the affected family.

He also said that the govenrment would be requested to pay compensation to those who had paid crop insurance premium and also to those who had not availed crop insurance scheme.

Earlier he visited the farmlands of Hemanna Kalasaraddi and Andappa Kundgol of Manakawad village in Annigeri taluk. He also visited the houses of Shivappa Koujageri and Ningamma Karadi where rains had caused damages. The minister gave ₹25,000 each to the both the families from the Lad Foundation. Mr. Lad also visited the rain affected villages of Ingalahalli in Hubballi taluk and Yaraguppi village in Kundgol taluk.

The Minister was accompanied by Navalgund MLA N.H. Konaraddi, Kundgol MLA M.R. Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad district Divya Prabhu G.R.J., Superintendent of Police Gunja Arya and other officials and various local elected representatives.

Bridge damaged

Mr. Lad also visited the place near Tadahal in Navalgund taluk where the bridge across Doddahalla and Bennihalla streams has been damaged due to flash floods. The Minister said that experts would be consulted on whether to construct a new bridge at the site or a steel bridge. The issue had already been discussed with Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi he said directing the officials to get the report on the issue immediately and place it for approval before concerned ministry.

As a temporary measure, the bridge should be repaired immediately and opened for public after getting expert opinion, he said.