Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Friday asked the Congress-led Punjab Government not to run away from awarding compensation to farmers affected by recent high velocity winds and hail storm in Bathinda rural assembly segment by coming out with “misleading” statements.

SAD’s Bathinda MP demanded immediate girdawari and due compensation for the affected farmers.

“It is unfortunate that the district administration is coming out with statements that cotton crop damaged during the last three days would revive. Such statements are being made despite the fact that at places, the crop had suffered 100 percent damage,” she said.

She elaborated that cotton fields have been inundated with canal water after trees which fell into two canals resulted in water overflow, scores of electricity poles and transformers have been uprooted resulting in power cuts in many villages, even green fodder has been damaged in several villages causing hardship for cattle, besides solar panels uprooted at several places.

Despite reportage of this widespread damage, the district administration had not swung into action and undertaken a girdawari exercise.

“In fact, an attempt is being made to run away from awarding compensation to the calamity stricken farmers. No attempt has been made to restore power supply by re-erecting electricity poles. This will delay paddy transplantation in this area also,” she said while demanding an immediate compensation package for affected farmers.