Compensate hailstorm hit farmers, orchardists of North Kashmir: JKAP

SRINAGAR, June 9 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) leaders Syed Mehmood and Reyaz Ahmad on Tuesday expressed serious concern over losses suffered by farmers and orchardists due to hailstorm, gusty winds and torrential rains in North Kashmir.

In a statement issued to, the JKAP leaders urged the government to order immediate assessment of losses and provide compensation to the affected farmers and orchardists of Baramulla and Kupwara districts.

“The respective district administrations should depute teams consisting of revenue, agriculture, horticulture officials and experts to assess losses caused to farms and orchards in various parts of the North Kashmir districts. Government should accordingly pay adequate compensation to the affected,” Mehmood and Reyaz demanded.

The leaders said that the government has so far failed to provide insurance and financial support to farmers and orchardists in the events of crop damages due to natural calamities including severe weather conditions.

The two leaders also urged the government to pay attention toward the sufferings of inhabitants of the border districts of J&K especially Baramulla district who are craving for basic amenities.

“The PMGSY has failed to start construction on Muqam Piran-Kathal Bridge in Uri tehsil for the last over two years. The road connecting a vast area on both sides of this bridge was damaged due to floods and thousands of families in this area are suffering due to official apathy,” the JKAP leaders observed.

They said the damaged Muqam-Kathal bridge has disconnected dozens of villages including Maaian, Hilpathri, Kathal, Turk Mohalla, Gujar Pathri, Ahangar Pathri and Mir Pathri etc. “The PMGSY Uri division has not worked on this sanctioned bridge for the last two years because its officers think they are unaccountable. Not only the dilapidated condition of roads and bridges but the entire Uri tehsil is suffering for want of basic amenities,” they added. (KNS)