Bollworm attack: To speed up relief disbursal, Punjab CM seeks report from DCs by Oct 29

Chandigarh, October 23

Assuring farmers of the cotton growing belt in southern Punjab of extending all possible help to mitigate their woes, CM Charanjit Channi has asked the DCs of districts affected by bollworm attack to send a report by October 29 so as to disburse compensation at the earliest.

The CM also asked the cotton growers to be rest assured as the state government was committed to helping them out at this crucial juncture.

Exhorting growers whose crop had perished in the bollworm attack not to be misled by Opposition propaganda, Channi said the state government would protect the interests of farmers. “Deputy CM Sukhjinder Randhawa and I visited affected villages of Nasibpura and Kataar Singh Wala soon after taking over the responsibility of the state to express solidarity with farmers,” Channi said. Meanwhile, Financial Commissioner Revenue VK Janjua apprised the CM that the assessment of crop loss was under way and compensation would be distributed shortly.

He said after receiving rough estimates of the loss, a special girdawari to assess the exact loss had been ordered in five districts. — TNS

Channi meets protesting farmers in Ropar

CM Charanjit Channi on Saturday visited farmers staging dharna at the Ropar-Chamkaur Sahib toll plaza. In his constituency to distribute grants for development works, he asked his staff to stop the cavalcade at the dharna site near Jhallian village. He assured the protesters that the government was with them. “We are duty bound to safeguard the interests of farmers and will continue to wholeheartedly support your agitation until the three farm laws are done away with,” he said. He said the laws were a conspiracy to subjugate farmers for the advantage of crony capitalists. tns