Agriculture

KCCI reveals 500 crore losses in crop damage, JK Guv promises compensation for farmers

Srinagar: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sunday expressed its anguish at the extensive damage of crops, fruits and trees throughout the Kashmir Valley following Saturday’s unprecedented snowfall. Citing preliminary reports from Fruit Associations, it stated that the losses were calculated upto 500 crores.

They further appealed for support and solidarity.

“The avoidable delay in implementation of Crop Insurance Schemes has ensured that our farmers and orchardists are deprived of any sort of insurance cover which could have proved to be of critical importance at this juncture,” the statement read.

KCCI reiterated its demand for  laying of underground cables for power transmission and observed that the same would have saved crores in T&D Losses and would have ensured hassle free power supply in the winter months. However, it blamed the the Power Development Department for making a choice to chose to waste thousands of crores in laying of covered cables on transmission poles.

“The results are out and it’s time that some accountability was sought,” it said.

It noted that ‘without any long term corrective measures for addressing core infrastructural issues, the State Administration seems to enjoy digging wells at the time of fire and indulge in cosmetic firefighting exercises’.

It expressed disappointment for issuing the same press statements following losses by the population.

ALSO READ: Early winter snow wrecks havoc: Orchards destroyed, electricity gone, travellers stranded, highways closed

In response to the current outcry by different political parties and officials on the extensive damage, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, in a press conference in Jammu on Monday said farmers who suffered losses due to recent snowfall would be compensated.

He said an assessment is being done and that the farmers would be compensated once the loss report was provided in the next few days.

Malik said that around 90 percent power supply was restored in Srinagar, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara and Ganderbal districts. “In Budgam district 50 percent power supply was restored,” he said.

“Due to damage to four major power towers we faced maximum problem in south Kashmir. So far the power supply was restored partially in Anantnag and Pulwama districts while in Kulgam and Shopian the power supply will be restored partially by today evening or tomorrow,” he said.

He also added that hospitals in all districts of Kashmir province were working normally on emergency restoration system.

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