Himachal monsoon losses cross Rs 3,000 crore

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Central teams assess damage as apple output falls sharply

Shimla, September 30

Himachal Pradesh Revenue and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi on Wednesday said the state had suffered more than Rs 3,000 crore in losses due to heavy monsoon rain, with central teams assessing the damage in affected areas. He also highlighted a sharp fall in apple arrivals and said a proposal to increase the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) procurement rate would be placed before the Cabinet.

Negi said Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and several other parts of the state had suffered damage during the final phase of the monsoon. Central teams had visited disaster-affected areas, including Dharamsala and Manali, to assess the losses.

On the Election Commission, Negi alleged that its impartiality was in question. He accused the BJP of weakening the poll panel and changing laws to facilitate the appointment of officials of its choice. He further alleged that the Chief Election Commission of India had worked according to the BJP’s direction and agenda for the past 12 years.

Questioning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Negi alleged that crores of people had been deprived of their right to vote. He said voting was the only right people had and alleged that the BJP was taking it away through the Election Commission. He said the matter was pending before the Supreme Court.

On the apple crop, Negi said adverse weather had led to a major decline in production. Around 1.14 crore apple boxes had reached the markets so far, against nearly 1.76 crore boxes during the corresponding period last year.

He said the state government planned to increase the procurement rate under the MIS and would place the proposal before the Cabinet to provide relief to the growers. Last year, the state had produced around three to three-and-a-half crore boxes, which Negi said was a bumper crop. This year, production had fallen considerably, and it was difficult to say whether the total arrivals would reach around two crore boxes by the end of the season.

On the ongoing political dispute in the Kinnaur Congress, Negi responded to Congress in-charge Rajni Patil’s remarks on indiscipline. He said party discipline should apply to everyone, including those making statements against others.

Negi said he had raised his concerns before the party forum as a ‘true soldier’ of the Congress and had also conveyed his views to the concerned leaders. He said that when discussions held within the party forum became public, and questions were raised outside, he had to respond.

Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on ‘sleeper cells’, Negi said people who were not working in the party’s interest needed to be removed. He said, “Jo Jaychand hain, bhagode hain, unse party nahi banegi,” and stressed that the organisation should be strengthened in accordance with the Congress Constitution and its ideals.

On Cabinet expansion, Negi said the decision was within the Chief Minister’s jurisdiction. He said ministerial positions could sometimes remain vacant until the end, but if an expansion was required, it should be carried out in time.