Karnataka - Gulbarga   

Hike compensation to be paid to farmers, says Yediyurappa

Special Correspondent

Suggests Rs. 10,000 an acre for sugarcane and Rs. 5,000 for other crops

TAKING STOCK: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly B.S. Yediyurappa talking to flood-affected families at Aurad village in Gulbarga taluk on Thursday about the relief measures undertaken so far.

GULBARGA: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly B.S. Yediyurappa has urged the State Government to increase the compensation to be paid to farmers who lost their crops in floods to Rs. 10,000 an acre for sugarcane and Rs. 5,000 an acre for other crops.

Addressing a press conference here along with senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders M.R. Tanga, Shashil G. Namoshi, Chandrasekhar Patil Revoor, Revu Naik and Sunil Valyapur, Mr. Yediyurappa said that the compensation of Rs. 800 an acre announced by the Government is nothing compared to farmers' losses in the flood-hit areas.

He said it would be adding insult to injury if the Government insists on paying Rs. 800 an acre as compensation. He urged farmers to reject the compensation announced by the Government and demand a higher amount.

He said crop loans taken by farmers in the flood-affected areas should be written off completely. The Government should supply seeds and fertilizers free of cost to farmers in the affected areas.

Mr. Yediyurappa said the Government should conduct a survey of the affected villages in Belgaum, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Gulbarga and Raichur districts and relocate flood-prone villages to safer areas.

He said that the worst affected by the floods, apart from farmers who lost their crops, are the poor and the Dalits who usually live on river-banks. They have lost all their belongings and the Government should help them reconstruct damaged building and pay Rs. 5,000 as ex-gratia to each of the affected families.

Mr. Yediyurappa said that while the Government provide some relief to the affected families immediately after water entered their households, nothing was done to protect cattle. Thousands of cattle had perished in the floods, particularly in Belgaum, Bijapur and Bagalkot districts, he said.

The Government should also make arrangements to provide fodder to cattle in the affected villages. Care should also be taken to prevent the outbreak of epidemics.

Taking exception to what he called the lack of urgency on the part of the Government in providing relief and rehabilitation to the affected people, Mr. Yediyurappa said that the Government should have deputed the Development Commissioner to the affected areas to supervise relief operations. Senior officials from Bangalore should have been asked to stay in the affected district to monitor relief operations.

`Differences sorted out'

He set at rest all speculation about his future in the Bharatiya Janata Party and made it clear that there is no question his joining any other party.

He said there were some minor differences between him and a few other BJP leaders, but all the differences have been ironed out.

All the MLAs, MPs and MLCs of the party are united and there is no threat to the party's unity. He said and added that there was some truth in reports that he had made attempts to persuade the Janata Dal (S) to join forces with BJP to form an alternative Government in the State. He, however, did not directly speak to Janata Dal (S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda but had talked to the Janata Dal (S) leadership through some intermediaries.

However, the issue of joining hands with the Janata Dal (S) is history now and the party does not intend to revive its attempts for an alliance with the Janata Dal (S).

He said the Janata Dal (S), which had spurned the attempts of the BJP to form an alternative Government, should give an assurance to the people that the present coalition arrangement with the Congress will continue for the full term.

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