Govt hikes compensation amount for flood victims

Vijayawada: The state govt has increased the relief compensation to farmers for crops damaged during the recent heavy rains and floods by nearly doubling the amount given in the past. The decision to increase the compensation was taken following chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu's assurance to farmers for all assistance from the govt.
The govt will pay a compensation of 25,000 per hectare for paddy, cotton, sugarcane, and groundnut crops, which was around 17,000 per hectare in the past.Similarly, compensation for bajra, sesamum, castor, jute, korra, sama and ragi has been increased to 15,000 per hectare, up from 8,500, while farmers growing black gram, red gram, green gram, tobacco, sunflower, and soyabean will also get 15,000, which was 10,000 in the past. Farmers of maize will receive a compensation of 15,000 per hectare against 12,500 in the past.
As per the GO issued by special chief secretary RP Sisodia (revenue and disaster management), compensation for horticulture crops such as banana has been increased to 35,000 per hectare (which was 25,000 perviously), while turmeric farmers will receive 35,000 per hectare against the previous 17,000. Vegetable farmers will also receive increased compensation of 25,000 per hectare, up from 17,000 in the past. Betel vine farmers will receive 300 per cent and maximum for 100 cents.
Chilli, papaya, tomato, flowers, onion, melons, nursery, and yam farmers will be paid 35,000 per hectare against the previous 17,000. Farmers of guava, acid lime, coffee, pomogranate, apple ber, sapota, and mango will get also 35,000 (previous amount was 22,500 per hectare).
The govt has also announced relief package for floods victims of Vijayawada by relaxing the NDRF/SDRF norms. While NDRF norms prescribed a compensation of 11,000 to victims of submerged ground floors, the govt has decided to grant 25,000 to each family. Similarly, first-floor residents will receive 10,000 against 5,000 fixed by NDRF. Small commercial establishments will also get 25,000 per shop.