GUWAHATI, July 29 ? Devastating floods seriously affected agriculture and according to preliminary estimates, more than 60 percent of the standing crop was damaged in the current wave of floods. This was disclosed by the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Dr Nazrul Islam, who was replying to the debate on the cut motions on the demand for grant for the Agriculture Department for the current financial year in the State Assembly today. Dr Islam informed the House that more than 12 lakh farm families were affected in floods this year and standing crop in more than eleven lakh hectares of land were damaged. He said that the Government would soon instruct the civil administration of the district and sub-divisions to see whether any Sali seedling is available and the available Sali seedling would be distributed among the affected farmers. He said that the Government has chalked out a plan for giving more stress on Rabi crops to make up for the loss suffered by the farmers due to floods.
The Minister gave an account of the steps taken by the Agriculture Department for the benefit of the farmers and said that efforts are on to ease the problem of marketing faced by the farmers. He said that due to pressure from the State Government, the Centre agreed to give three percent relaxation on moisture content of rice and now the rice produced in the State would be procured by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). He revealed that the Government has so far established two wholesale and 25 retail markets for the benefit of the farmers. On the demand for setting up of cold storages, he said that among the vegetables, only potato can be stored in cold storages for more than seven days. He admitted that the Agriculture Department has no plan to set up cold storages on its own at this moment. But at the same time, he assured that the Government can play the role of facilitator if any private party comes forward to establish cold storages. He also said that the present Government has given stress on crop insurance and more than four lakh farm families have been brought under the crop insurance scheme.
Earlier, participating on the debate, Dr Ardhendu Kumar Dey (Cong), who was the Agriculture Minister of the State till early this month, said that the present government laid stress on crop insurance and providing kishan credit cards to the farmers. He admitted that some irregularities were found in implementation of various schemes by the officials of the Department and probe into the same were ordered. He hoped that the new Agriculture Minister would seriously look into the matter. He pointed out that devastating floods affected almost hundred percent of the farmers of the State and called upon the Government to procure seeds from outside, if necessary for the benefit of the farmers. ?The State Government has sought funds from the Centre to provide relief to the affected people for a period of six months. Does the Government have a contingency plan if the proposal is rejected by the Centre,? he asked. The grant was later passed by the State Assembly by voice vote.
Rice distribution: The Minister of State for Panchayat and Rural Development , Ripun Bora today asserted that strict action would be taken against anyone found to be involved in irregularities in distribution of rice under rural development schemes. He said that from time to time, the Government receives complaints of such irregularities and action was taken in all such cases.
Replying to a question by Dilip Kumar Saikia (AGP) in the State Assembly, the Minister said that the society has to play the role of watchdog to prevent such irregularities. He said that the additional rice allocation for Tezpur, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji had to be lifted from the FCI godowns in Nagaon and Hojai because of some problems in transportation of rice to places which do not have broad gauge rail connection.
Referring to the allegations of involvement in irregularities in rice distribution, he asserted that he was in no way involved in such scam. He pointed out that the Centre sends rice for rural development schemes directly to the Panchayats and the Minister has no role to play in this regard.
When the AGP legislator pointed out that even a ruling party legislator had levelled allegations against the Minister, Bora said, ? I shall quit not only the post of Minister but also politics if someone can probe my involvement in such a scam.? He also told the House that he has already sent a lawyer?s notice to the legislator who levelled charges against him.