Flood-hit farmers seek compensation in Krishna district

Vijayawada: Hundreds of farmers, who suffered crop loss due to floods in Delta area of Krishna district, are eagerly waiting for the release compensation by the government.

The horticulture department has sent proposals to the State government for the release of Rs 7.20 crore compensation as farmers suffered loss in 4,033 hectares in Krishna district.

Floods inundated horticulture crops in Thotlavallur, Challapalli, Pamidimukkala, Avanigadda, Koduru, Nagayalanka, Pamarru and other mandals in the third week of August.

Banana, vegetables, turmeric, elephantafootyam (Kanda), beetle leaves and other crops were damaged. The horticulture department formed 10 teams for the enumeration and sent reports to the government for release of compensation.

Assistant Director of Horticulture (Vijayawada division) B Dayakar said the government will sanction Rs 25,000 per hectare to banana crop, Rs 75,000 per hectare for beetle leaves and Rs 15,000 for other horticulture crops.

The government will directly credit the compensation amount into the bank accounts of farmers. As per the estimates, horticulture farmers may get Rs 7.20 crore compensation.

Similarly, the agriculture department sent proposals for the release of Rs 2.06 crore compensation for crop loss in 4,033 hectares in Krishna district.

Paddy farmers will get Rs 15,000 per hectare and other farmers will get Rs 10,000 per hectare, said Joint Director of Agriculture P Mohana Rao. Paddy, black gram, red gram, maize and other agriculture crops were damaged due to floods particularly in the downstream of Prakasam barrage. He hoped the government would release compensation within a week.