March 28, 2002

'33'

COMPENSATION RELEASED FOR DAMAGES DURING CURRENT MOBILIZATION

    The State Governments of Punjab and Rajasthan had approached the Ministry of Defence for payment of ex-gratia compensation to the farmers for damages to their crops during the preparatory stage of defence preparations and movement of the Armed Forces in the border areas. The issue has been considered in Ministry and it has been decided to pay the following
compensation amount.

    The Ministry of Defence has already released a sum of Rs.36 crores, which is 25 per cent of the amount projected by the State Revenue authorities as loss towards the crops, to the State Government of Punjab as "on account" payment to be made to the individual farmers.

    Similarly a sum of Rs. 13.80 crores, which is 25 percent of the amount projected by the State Revenue authorities as loss towards the crops, has been released to the State Government of Rajasthan as "on account" payment to be made to the individual farmers. The payment made to the individuals will be adjusted against the final bills to be submitted by the Board of Officers constituted/to be constituted by the Local Military Authorities for assessing the loss towards the crops.

    The compensation under the scheme will cover damages to standing crops, damages to standing fruit trees, orchards etc., damages to crops, fruit trees, orchards etc. around Air fields and other vital installations; and damages to fences, sheds, structures connected with agriculture and other agricultural properties.

    Where the cultivators are prevented from sowing new crops and where the land has been taken over and occupied by Army authorities or where such lands are mined and also where the land is not under the physical occupation of Army but where the land owners are not allowed to cultivate their lands for security reasons for a period beyond 30 days, the occupation of
land would be regularized by way of either requisitioning or hiring.