TEXT :
SHRI ANNASAHEB M.K. PATIL (ERANDOL): Sir, rabi crops in several parts of Maharashtra have been damaged due to hailstorm and unseasonal heavy rains during the last two days. Grapes, oranges, tomato, wheat and jowar crops in these parts are nearly ruined according to reports reaching here from Vidarbha, North and South Maharashtra and the Marathwada region.

Recently, rain and hailstorm lashed Nashik, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur districts paralysing normal life in these pockets.

Several villages in the Vidarbha and Khandesh regions reported breakdown in communication as telephone polls were uprooted and power lines tripped due to the storm. Uprooted trees blocked vehicular traffic on highway and other roads in the region. The sudden downpour damaged the cotton piled up in monopoly purchase centres in the Vidarbha, Marathwada and Khandesh region.

Under these circumstances, I appeal to the Central Government to send a team to assess the losses and damages caused to various crops by unseasonal hailstorm and compensate the losses to the farmers.