Raipur, Oct 30 Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has directed district collectors to immediately conduct a survey of crops damaged due to Cyclone Arnab and ensure timely compensation to affected farmers, officials said on Friday.
Taking serious note of reports of crop damage in various parts of the state due to the cyclone, Sai asked district administrations to work with sensitivity and ensure that farmers do not face any inconvenience in getting relief, an official statement said.
He directed officials to expedite the assessment of crop losses and provide assistance to eligible farmers in accordance with the provisions of the Revenue Book Circular 6-4 and prescribed norms, it said.
Videos from several districts have surfaced on social media showing standing paddy crops flattened by strong winds and rainfall triggered by the cyclone in the last three days.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij has demanded an immediate assessment of crop losses and announcement of compensation for affected farmers.
Baij claimed that paddy crops had been severely damaged due to unseasonal rain, adverse weather conditions and pest attacks.
He alleged that the state government has not launched any concrete survey or assessment of the losses so far.
The Congress leader demanded that farmers whose crops have been completely destroyed be given a one-time compensation of Rs 70,518 per acre, calculated at the rate of Rs 3,358 per quintal for 21 quintals of paddy per acre.
The Chhattisgarh government has announced that paddy procurement for the 2026-27 Kharif marketing season will begin on November 15 at the rate of Rs 3,100 per quintal. The procurement limit has been fixed at 21 quintals per acre.
(PTI News)
