Gujarat pegs losses due to unseasonal rains at Rs4,375 cr

Rs4,375 crore-this is the state government estimate of losses suffered by agricultural sector, fisheries, salt industry, among others in the state due to cyclone, heavy unseasonal rains and strong winds in November this year.

In the wake of the state government's request for financial assistance, a central government team, led by Anindo Majumdar, joint secretary, agriculture department, arrived on a four-day visit to the state to assess the damage caused by the unseasonal rains and bad weather.

Officials from state revenue, agriculture, road & building, salt, and fisheries departments met the central team and apprised them about the losses because of the adverse weather.

The estimate of losses suffered by agriculture, horticulture, salt industry and other sectors were pegged at Rs4,375 crore.

Detailed presentations about the losses suffered in the state were also made before the central team.

Giving details about the losses, Poonamchand Parmar, charity commissioner and principal secretary, revenue department, said that roughly 72.14 lakh people in 21 districts suffered monetary loss due to the heavy unseasonal rains in November. Agriculture sector was the worst hit.

"Cotton, groundnut, maize and paddy crops, and horticulture produce suffered loss of Rs3,312 crore. The road & building department losses due to damage to roads and bridges are estimated at around Rs952 crore," he said.

Poonamchand further said, "Salt industry lost to the tunes of Rs85 crore, whereas the animal husbandry sector losses were Rs25.2 crore."

Following the meeting, the team left for a visit to the affected areas in Bhavnagar, Amreli, Rajkot and Surendranagar to assess the losses. The team will conclude its visit to the state with a meeting in Gandhinagar and submit its report to the Centre.