2/20/2003 9:13:08 AM

Heavy damage has been caused to various rabi crops especially wheat and mustard. Three factors — heavy showers, violent winds and hailstorms — are responsible for the misery that has hit various sections of the populace in the countryside. The Tribune team, which visited various parts in the countryside this morning, found farmers busy in draining out rainwater from the wheat and mustard fields that were flattened by the ravaging winds. They were visibly in a sad mood because of the prevailing nasty weather conditions. Reacting to the situation emerging in the state following such reports, Mr Bhagat Singh, Financial Commissioner ( Revenue), has directed the Deputy Commissioners to submit to him reports at the earliest possible of the damage caused by the hostile weather in the countryside. “ I am in touch with all Deputy Commissioners to have the latest reports in this connection”, said Mr Bhagat Singh, when contacted. Meanwhile, Mr Raminder Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepore district, dashed here today from the border district to seek emergency grant to provide relief to the squall-hit farmers and others. Mr Bhagat Singh, who was approached by Mr Raminder Singh for the release of the emergency relief fund for the affected families, released this afternoon Rs 50 lakh for Ferozepore district. Mr Bhagat Singh said he had asked Mr Raminder Singh to order a special girdavari in the affected areas and also the survey of the damaged houses. Farmers at Gosalan village near Samrala told The Tribune that hailstorm hit their village early this morning. Mr Piara Singh, a former Panch, said already farmers were facing financial problems, but the bad weather had further added to their woes. He said the damage to wheat, potato and mustard crops was significant. Mr Mewa Singh, Mr Rulda Singh and Mr Telu Singh said the mustard crop that had been flattened by the fast blowing winds would not come up again as it was one of the most sensitive among crops. However, there were chances of recovery of damaged wheat crop to a large extent. They said the cycle stand shed of a nearby school was blown off by the squall last night. Similar reports of blowing off of roof tops have been received from elsewhere also. When asked about the power supply, they said it was missing for the past 24 hours. Even otherwise, power supply in the area remained woefully inadequate. “Though we pay power bills of tubewells now, power supply was given to operate tubewells only after 9 p.m. for a four-five hours”, they said. “The Punjab Government is playing a joke on us in this connection. We have to pay for getting even the burnt transformers repaired,” they added in one voice. Sarwan Kumar, a farm hand at Boothgarh village, who was busy draining out water from a wheat field, said the power supply had disappeared three days ago. The draining out of water was required immediately as otherwise roots of wheat plants would be affected leading to further damage to the crop, he explained. Interestingly, the Punjab Agriculture Department had not received any report of the hailstorm till the close of the office today. When contacted an official of the department said, “We have not received any report in this connection from any district”.