Fruit crops over 1,435 hectares damaged by floods, hailstorm in Kashmir: Government

Srinagar, Oct 30: The government on Thursday said that fruit crops spread over a total of 1,435.6 hectares of land were damaged across Kashmir due to recent floods and hailstorms.

This includes 846.2 hectares affected by floods in three South Kashmir districts and 589.4 hectares damaged by hailstorms in fourth one- Shopian. According to the government’s reply to an unstarred question by senior Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra, the flood-related damage was reported from three districts of South Kashmir — Pulwama, Anantnag, and Kulgam.

The reply stated that 202.67 hectares of fruit crops were affected in Pulwama, 46.131 hectares in Anantnag, and 8 hectares in Kulgam.

As per the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms, only farmers who suffer losses exceeding 33 percent are eligible for compensation.

The government said 98 families each were affected in Anantnag and Kulgam, while one family was impacted in Pulwama. Compensation amounting to Rs 8.08 lakh has been processed for the affected families, it added. On horticulture losses, the government said that hailstorms at various intervals this year in Shopian district damaged crops over 589.4 hectares, causing losses worth Rs 51.43 lakh.

“Out of this, Rs 47.28 lakh has already been released by the deputy commissioner in favour of 2,036 families, while the balance Rs 4.15 lakh has been processed,” the government said.