Hindustan Times

The rains and high-velocity winds witnessed during last couple of days have left the farmers worried as they claimed such weather at this stage could affect their yield.

As per the reports from meteorological departments, widespread rains and wind were reported in most parts of the state in past 48 hours.

According to farmers, the untimely rains accompanied by strong winds have damaged standing crops in several parts of Karnal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar and Kaithal districts. They complained that their crops have been flattened and this will lead to a fall in the yield — especially in the early varieties — as it would affect the growth of grain.

“Most of the crops are flattened. The grain will ...

Mumbai Mirror

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented the first budget of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government on Friday, which pegged the state’s revenue deficit at Rs 9,510.71 crore for the next financial year 2020-21. The state’s overall budget deficit is expected to touch Rs 31,3443.32 crore.

While, on the one hand, he reduced stamp duty on property transactions, on the other, he increased value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel by Re.1. This extra amount will be used to fund the government’s green initiatives.

Times Of India

District farmers, who had insured their crops, have got Rs 156 crore from insurance companies after their crops were damaged during monsoon. “Insurance companies have settled the claims of the farmers. The claims were raised with the company due to heavy rainfall that damaged the kharif crop during monsoon,” a senior official from the district administration said. “The district administration has been appealing to the farmers to insure their crop by paying a paltry premium. The central and state governments pay a larger share of the premium,” he added.

Times Of India

The Punjab government has granted in-principle approval for the establishment of a compressed biogas plant at a closed down sugar mill at Rakhra in Patiala district. The oil marketing giant will spend Rs 180 crore on setting up the plant. Cooperation minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa took the decision on Friday while presiding over a meeting with the top brass of the Indian Oil at the Markfed Bhawan. Randhawa said the project had been approved as part of the strategy of the cooperation department to revive the closed sugar mills of the state and make use of them. He added that the project would be useful in tackling the problem posed by the paddy stubble burning and at help ...

Indian Express

Untimely rain coupled with hailstorm and strong winds, which are on for the past three days, have damaged wheat, mustard, barley crops, and vegetables in Haryana. The rains have flattened crops in Fatehabad, Hisar, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Sonipat, Dadri, Mahendergarh and other parts of the state.

Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister JP Dalal said that the mustard has suffered maximum damage as the crop was almost ready to be harvested. “At some places, the damage is up to 50 percent,” said Dalal.