Rafiabad June 13 (KNS): J&K People's Conference Senior Vice President and Former Minister, Abdul Gani Vakil, today expressed concern over the heavy damage caused to apple orchards and vegetable crops due to heavy hail storm in upper-belt of Rafiabad yesterday where heavy hailstorm has wreaked havoc, has totally destroyed Apple orchards and vegetable crops and has incurred huge losses to farmers and fruit growers of the area.
While touring the affected areas including Balhama, Braman, Kutru Naribal, Brandub, Kahamu, Panzala, Shutulu Vakil expressed sympathies with the affected people of the area and demanded a special economic package for fruit growers and farmers who have already faced heavy losses for last 5 years.
Former Minister demanded comprehensive compensation to the orchardists and farmers who suffered heavy losses due to heavy hailstorm today and said that whenever natural calamities cause damage to the fruit and crops, the worse affected were assured compensation and even surveys were being conducted. "But no relief reaches to the affected farmers," he said.
Vakil urged the government to go for immediate assessment of damages to fruit and vegetable crops and disburse financial relief to the affected families without any delay as they have already suffered losses.
"Waiving of the KCC loan and providing free ration to the affected people is the need of the hour at this crucial time which can be helpful to a great extent in reviving the horticulture sector which is in shambles," Vakil added.(KNS)