By IANS
Jaipur : After severe winter this year damaged crops worth billions of rupees, Rajasthan has sought frost and cold wave be included in the list of notified disasters that entitle a state for Calamity Relief Fund (CRF).
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who called on union Home Minister Shiv Raj Patil in New Delhi Tuesday, also sought to disburse prompt financial assistance to the affected farmers under the CRF, an official statement said Wednesday.
Raje told the minister the recent cold wave sweeping across north Indian states has severely damaged the winter crops in many districts of Rajasthan, adversely affecting the agricultural economy of the farmers.
“The farmers of desert states like Rajasthan are worst affected as their rabi crops are totally ruined,” Raje said.
“It is apprehended that crops such as mustard, barley, coriander, gram, and vegetables etc. in some of districts have been completely damaged.”
The chief minister said about 300,000 farmers in Rajasthan are badly affected with crops in about one million hectares destroyed, and the damages would be worth about Rs.10 billion.
“Although actual estimates are under preparation, the financial assistance that may be payable, should CRF norms be applied will be of the order of about Rs.2 billion,” Raje said.
A state like Rajasthan is often subject to distress situations arising out of drought, the financial security of the farmers has been further shattered by this natural disaster.
She argued that when similar natural phenomena such as hailstorm and cloud-burst find mention in the notified list, why could frost and cold wave not be included in it.