Thousands of farmers in Kalavad, the hometown of agriculture minister RC Faldu, took to streets on Monday and called their region scarcity-hit. The farmers also sought that the government should give power during the day and drinking water and fodder for the cattle.
The community also spilt milk and smashed vegetables on roads. The farmers, especially women, played Garba by singing songs criticising the government.
On the other hand, the state government is under dilemma that how more regions could be declared scarcity-hit. The government has already declared Kutch district and six other tehsils as scarcity-affected as Chief Minister Vijay Rupani asked the revenue department last week to assess if more such regions could be located.
However, the government is yet to take a call. The revenue minister, Kaushik Patel, said, "We have to go by the rule book of disaster and relief manual. We cannot go beyond the rule and declare an area scarcity-hit.
The Centre will release grants only when the regions are declared as scarcity hit going by the rules. The state government alone can't bear the expense for relief in affected area once it is declared as scarcity-hit."
"We are assessing the land currently and once we get any hint, we will take action," minister further added.
Meanwhile, reacting to the protest, BJP spokesperson IK Jadeja said, "The government is going purchase paddy, millet and maize from October 17. The Congress has been trying to create stir unnecessarily."
Online payment contemplated for NA
Efforts by the state government on implementation of issuance of the non-agriculture certificate are going in vain because of payment hassle. As the premium payment consumes a lot of time, the government is mulling expediting the process, said the revenue minister Kaushik Patel. Patel said the state is in talks with different stakeholders.
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