BJP Scheduled Castes Morcha seeks ₹25,000 per acre aid for rain-hit crops in Kalaburagi

State vice-president of the BJP Scheduled Castes Morcha Ambaraya Ashtagi has urged the State government to provide immediate compensation of ₹25,000 per acre to farmers whose crops have been destroyed by torrential rainfall in the district.

Addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on Sunday, Mr. Ashtagi said that the incessant downpour in various taluks has led to widespread damage to kharif crops, including pigeon pea, green gram, black gram, soybean, sesame and cotton.

Crops sown in nearly six lakh hectares have been completely ruined, leaving farmers in deep distress, he said.

He criticised the Agriculture, Horticulture and Revenue departments for failing to conduct a joint survey and release accurate information on the extent of crop damage.

“Farmers who made attempts to lodge complaints through the toll free number provided under the crop insurance scheme found that calls are not being received. Farmers are being forced to approach the Agriculture Department offices directly which is causing severe hardship. The toll free helpline must be made fully functional,” he demanded.

Mr. Ashtagi stressed that the joint survey be conducted as per the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms and compensation be provided at ₹25,000 per acre to the affected farmers without any delay.

Mr. Ashtagi urged district in-charge Minister Priyank Kharge, who also holds the portfolios of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj as well as Information and Biotechnology, to devote some time to the district instead of remaining preoccupied with his schedules in Bengaluru and abroad.

“Mr. Kharge is an elected representative from this district. It is his duty to stand by farmers in distress and address their problems with due seriousness,” he remarked.

He also drew attention to the flooding at Malkhed in Sedam taluk where rainwater entered the sanctum sanctorum of the original Brindavana of Jayatirtha (Teekacharya) at Uttaradi Math on the banks of the Kagina causing inconvenience to devotees.

“Incessant rainfall has wreaked havoc in Kalaburagi. The Brindavana of Jayatirtha on the banks of the Kagina is flooded. As many as 69 houses have collapsed in Afzalpur taluk, while the Renuka Yallamma Devi temple at Mannur has been completely submerged. As many as 29 houses have been damaged at Jidaga in Aland taluk. Yet, the district in-charge Minister remains in Bengaluru, the district administration is in deep slumber and the Agriculture Minister has not even bothered to visit Kalaburagi, despite standing crops being destroyed,” Mr. Ashtagi said.

Raising concern over the additional release of water from the Ujjini reservoir in neighbouring Maharashtra, he said that the Bhima is overflowing causing flooding in surrounding areas. Effective flood management is necessary to prevent loss of life and property, he stressed.

Mr. Ashtagi further reminded the State government that last year’s crop loss due to pod borer and wilt disease in pigeon pea has not yet been fully compensated.

“Only one installment of crop insurance has been disbursed, while the second installment remains pending. The outstanding payment must be released at the earliest,” he demanded.

BJP leaders Ganesh Valakeri, Ravi Madankar, Jai Bhim Katti and Shivu Ashtagi attended the press conference.