The announcement was made by Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister Aruna Chaudhary and Agriculture Minister Randeep Singh Nabha in a joint press conference here at Punjab Bhawan. Both the Cabinet Ministers said that the pink ballworm had caused severe damage to cotton crops in Mansa, Sangrur, Bathinda, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Barnala districts and to compensate these farmers their government is releasing this amount of Rs 416 crore. They said that 10 percent of the amount would be provided to the cotton picking workers as relief and the compensation amount will be sent in the accounts of Deputy Commissioners before Diwali and the district administration will directly transfer the aid in the bank accounts of farmers.
The two ministers said that the Punjab Government is standing firmly with the farmers and every step would be taken for their welfare.
Giving details of the distribution of compensation, the Ministers said that this time around 7 lakh 51 thousand acres of cotton was sown in the cotton belt and out of this around four lakh acres had been damaged by the pink ballworm. Compensation was being paid at the rate of Rs. 2,000 per acre for 26 to 32 percent loss, Rs. 5400 per acre for 33 to 75 percent loss and Rs.12,000 per acre for 76 to 100 percent loss which is the highest ever amount. Earlier, farmers were being paid Rs 8,000 per acre and pickers 5 percent of the amount for crop failure.
According to the Cabinet Ministers, 151335 acre crop in Mansa district has been damaged from 76 to 100 percent an amount of Rs.181,60,21,050 is being released for this district. Similarly, in Sangrur 145 acres suffered loss from 26 to 32 per cent, 3693 acres 33 to 75 per cent and 180 acres 76 to 100 per cent loss and provision of Rs. 224,01,328 has been made for this. He said that in Bathinda district, 683 acres have suffered loss from 26 to 32 percent, 85 acres 33 to 75 percent and 188308 acres 76 to 100 percent loss for which compensation of Rs. 226,15,23,700 is being paid for Bathinda. In Sri Muktsar Sahib district, 1906 acres crop have been damaged by 26 to 32 per cent, 7922 acres by 33 to 75 per cent and 50 acres by 76 to 100 per cent for which an amount of Rs. 4,71,90,800 is being released.