Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 23

The delay in girdawari for the assessment of crop loss has forced the farmers of 47 villages of the Lehra and Moonak areas to take to roads. They have accused the revenue officials of preparing fake reports to favour some “influential” farmers of the area.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) has, however, denied the allegations, saying the shortage of staff had slowed down the process.

Staff shortage

All affected farmers will get financial aid. The ongoing strike and shortage of staff have caused the delay, but we are trying our best to complete the assessment at the earliest. —Navreet Sekhon, SDM, Moonak and Lehra

“As per the orders of senior authorities, officials of the Revenue Department should have started the crop loss assessment before August 20. But to date, a majority of the affected farmers are waiting for the revenue officials to share their losses. The officials are, however, preparing reports without even visiting the affected farmers and will help only politically influential ones in getting the compensation,” said Rinku Moonak, BKU Ugrahan president of the Moonak block, while protesting along with the affected farmers.

Other farmers alleged that since they had already retransplanted paddy by spending money from their pockets, officials concerned would not include their area.

“A few days ago, revenue officials came to our village but they neither met any panchayat member nor any affected farmer. How can they assess the loss without meeting anyone? Also, many farmers have already retransplanted paddy,” said Jasvir Singh, another farmer. As per the Agriculture Department, rainwater had submerged standing crops on 6,500 acres of 47 villages of the Moonak and Lehra areas of the district.