MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the House on Friday that farmers whose fields have been damaged due to incessant rain will receive compensation within two months, ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Additionally, all previous pending cases will be resolved in the same timeframe.
Responding to the Calling Attention motion by Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira regarding the plight of farmers whose fields have been flooded, Sawant acknowledged the challenges posed by the rains and breaches in bunds.
He explained that while it is currently impossible to compensate farmers by the end of the assembly session due to the need for surveys by Zonal Agriculture Officers (ZAOs), efforts will be made to expedite the process.
“It will be next to impossible to pay compensation by end of the assembly session as the Zonal Agriculture Officers (ZAOs) have to conduct surveys. But within next two months and definitely before the Chaturthi all the farmers who suffered losses due to the rains will be compensated to the maximum as per the law,” Sawant said.
Sawant noted that technical issues, such as missing documents, often complicate the compensation process, with farmers being required to submit affidavits in such cases.
He assured that surveyors would be dispatched promptly to assess the damage once the weather improves.
“We must understand that since most of the fields are flooded it will be difficult to conduct the survey. As soon as the weather clears the officials of the ZAO will do the surveys,” he said.
Ferreira emphasised the need for timely compensation, highlighting that many farmers have lost their seeds to the flooding, which has caused significant distress in the farming community.
He urged the government to address breaches in bunds that exacerbate the flooding.
Supporting the call for swift action, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai expressed sympathy for the affected farmers and highlighted the need for inclusivity in the compensation process, especially for those not qualifying for the Krishi card.
Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco warned that if heavy rains continue, 70 per cent of the fields could be destroyed. He called for the identification of problem areas to prevent future breaches.
Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik committed to disbursing compensation as quickly as possible, emphasising the importance of encouraging young people’s interest in farming.
He announced that officials have been directed to visit all 12 talukas to assess the damage promptly.
Other MLAs, including Viresh Borkar, Cruz Silva, Chandrakant Shetye, Premanand Shet, Michael Lobo, Rudolf Fernandes, Kedar Naik, Altone D’Costa, and Yuri Alemao, also voiced their concerns.
