Financial assistance to affected farmers due to natural calamities by Aug 1st week: Kavlekar

Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Agriculture Minister Babu Kavlekar today said that the state government will complete the disbursement of the financial assistance to the farmers affected due to calamities by the first week of August.
Kavlekar said that on the first day that cyclone ‘Tauktae’ brought in gusty winds and heavy rains, he had directed the zonal agriculture officers of all the 12 talukas of the state to prepare the ground report of the losses caused to the farmers.
“Accordingly, I had received reports and the loss is pegged at over Rs 3 crore. I will see to it that appropriate compensation is provided immediately to all the affected farmers. I will take up the issue in detail with the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant,” he said.
All the farmers, including those not possessing ‘Xetkar Krushi Card’ who suffered losses due to cyclone ‘Tauktae’ will be paid compensation either from Xetkar Adhar Nidhi Scheme or chief minister’s relief fund, said Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Chandrakant ‘Babu’ Kavlekar.
OVER 1,900 hectares of farmland has been affected due to water collected in Goan fields due to heavy rain. While the initial estimate of loss is around Rs 9 crore, the actual loss is yet to be calculated because, in many areas, water levels finally receded early this week. Banana and Areca nut plantations have also been affected.
Bicholim and Pernem are the worst affected due to rainwater flooding. Several other fields suffered due to the tidal functions with the sluice gates unable to handle the excess water.