New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana were the worst hit states in the recent unseasonal rains and hailstorm and have sought over Rs 10,100 crore as relief from the Centre for the affected farmers, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the rains and hailstorm altogether affected 94 lakh hectares of crop area across 14 states over the last three months.
Giving state-wise details in reply to a question, he said 29.64 lakh hectares of crop area was affected in Uttar Pradesh.
In Haryana, 22.24 lakh hectares of crop area was affected while in Rajasthan it stood at 16.89 lakh hectares.
Other affected states are Maharashtra (9.89 lakh hectares), Madhya Pradesh (5.70), Punjab (2.94), Bihar (1.86), Gujarat (1.75), Jammu & Kashmir (1.33), Himachal Pradesh (0.67), West Bengal (0.49), Uttarakhand (0.39), Telangana and Kerala (0.01 each).
"Memoranda have been received from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana demanding Rs 744.48 crore, Rs 8,252 crore and Rs 1,135.91 crore from NDRF (National Disaster Response Fund), respectively," Singh said during Question Hour.
The minister said several state governments have been asked to take relief measures and utilise the money available under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
For additional financial assistance, the states can seek money from the National Disaster Response Fund.
Financial assistance under SDRF/NDRF in the wake of natural calamities was by way of relief and not for compensation of losses suffered, he noted.
Besides, Singh said a new crop insurance policy was also on the anvil for this fiscal.
"In addition to the assistance available under the regular schemes of crops damage, the calamity affected farmers are entitled for claims under various crop insurance schemes under implementation in the country," the Agriculture Minister said.
Among others, the government has decided to provide assistance to farmers whose crop loss was at least 33 per cent, he said.
To a question on whether farmers have committed suicide due to distress caused by unseasonal rains and hailstorms, Radha Mohan Singh said Maharashtra government reported three such cases during January to March period.
"As per reports received from some state governments namely Punjab, Karnataka, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, there have been no incidents of farmer suicide due to agrarian distress caused by recent untimely rains and hailstorms," he said.
