Altaf Bukhari urges administration to assess crop losses from winds and hailstorm
Says, ‘if Apni Party receives a public mandate in the imminent polls, it will announce a special compensation package for the affected orchardists and farmers’
Srinagar, September 3 : Expressing profound grief and sorrow over the losses suffered by fruit growers and farmers due to the recent hailstorm in south Kashmir’s Shopian and Kulgam districts, Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari urged the administration to initiate a thorough assessment of the crop losses in order to provide adequate compensation to those affected. He promised that “if the Apni Party secures a public mandate in the upcoming assembly polls, it will introduce a special compensation package for the orchardists and farmers who suffered significant losses due to the gusty winds and hailstorm.”
Pertinently, the recent heavy rains, hailstorms, and gusty winds have caused significant damage to fruit and other agricultural crops in the Shopian and Kulgam districts. Reports say that the worst hit villages in Shopian are Wachi, Kapran, Rawalpora, Kachdora, Kachdora Check, Vehil, Zaipora, and Reshnagri, while as in Kulgam most affected villages Pombay, Arreh, Kadder, Qazigund, and adjoining areas.
In his statement issued here, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “I am deeply saddened to learn that an intense hailstorm has caused extensive damage to apple crops in various villages across Shopian and Kulgam districts. I urge the administration to deploy official teams to the affected areas to assess the losses so that the victims can be adequately compensated.”
He promised that “If the Apni Party receives a public mandate in the upcoming assembly polls, it will announce a special compensation package for those affected by the adverse weather in these two districts.”
“In these challenging times, the Apni Party stands in solidarity with the victims, and I assure them that we will leave no stone unturned to secure fair compensation for them,” he added.
