NASHIK :
Cyclone Nisarga, which also battered north Maharashtra on Wednesday, has destroyed crop on 239 hectares across Nashik district, according to primary assessment by the local authorities.
Standing crops of sugarcane, pomegranate and vegetables have been the hardest hit. As many as 73 cattle heads, big and small were killed due to lightning strike and storms, while more than 500 raw houses were damaged. The district administration has completed assessment of crop damage and a report has been sent to the government seeking compensation to the extent of damage.
A record 995 mm rainfall was recorded in the district during cyclonic storm on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had ordered panchnamas of damages. Accordingly, guardian minister Chhagan Bhujbal had instructed administration authorities to conduct talukawise assessment of crop damage. The aftermath of the cyclone shows that the cyclone hit the district hard. Winds blowing at a speed of 40 to 50 kmph accompanied by torrential rains caused severe damage to standing crops.
Crops on 239.77 hectares including onion, pomegranates, sugarcane, tomatoes and vegetables were flattened completely,
badly hitting tehsils of Sinnar and Dindori, while poultry farms, polyhouses and onion sheds were sustained heavy damages.
Apart from these, 73 cattle including cows, buffaloes, bulls, calves and sheep also died during the cyclone. Baglan tehsil has suffered the most livestock losses. The farmer, who was already in big trouble due to the present crisis, has been almost devastated by the cyclone.
The cyclone also damaged 36 concrete houses, 475 raw houses and four huts in the form of wall collapse and blow off of rooftops.
‘Nature’ of damage :
Crops – 239.77 hactares
Small cattle – 28
Big cattle – 45
Raw houses – 475
Concrete houses – 36
Poly House – 10
Shednet – 11
Poultry – 6
Onion sheds – 7
Cattle sheds – 2
A decision on the relief package is expected this week. Usually, farmers get a compensation of Rs 6800 to Rs 18000 per hectare for losses. The compensation for repairs and construction of houses ranges between Rs 6000 and Rs 6 lakh.
