Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government will release ₹493 crore in agricultural input assistance to 9,18,091 farmers whose crops were damaged by floods, excessive rainfall, cyclones and hailstorms. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to release the funds through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) at a programme in Gorakhpur.
The event will be held at the Yogiraj Baba Gambhirnath Auditorium, where Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi and other public representatives are also expected to be present.
According to the Relief Commissioner’s Office, adverse weather conditions across the state caused extensive damage to standing crops. The impact was particularly severe following Cyclone Arnab in the last week of September. Farmers affected by these natural disasters have been identified for financial assistance to help them recover their agricultural losses.
The government has already released ₹169 crore to districts in advance for crop-loss assistance. Of this, ₹78.75 crore has been distributed among 1,29,326 farmers. In addition, ₹225.93 crore has been provided to families affected by natural disasters involving loss of life, livestock deaths and damage to houses.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has directed district magistrates, Divisional Forest Officers and the Uttar Pradesh Forest Corporation to ensure the prompt disposal of trees uprooted by storms and cyclones on private farmland and other private properties.
Forest officials and the Forest Corporation have been instructed to process farmers’ applications without unnecessary delays and issue transit permits for transporting fallen timber on priority, in accordance with forest regulations. The Chief Minister has also stressed transparency and accountability to prevent farmers from facing avoidable financial or administrative harassment.
Trees obstructing public roads must be removed promptly to restore smooth traffic movement. District magistrates and forest officials have been asked to conduct joint inspections and monitor the situation to ensure timely assistance to affected residents and farmers.
Following the relief distribution programme, Yogi Adityanath is also scheduled to address a teachers’ voter interaction rally at Mahant Digvijaynath Park in the Ramgarhtal area of Gorakhpur in connection with the Gorakhpur-Faizabad teachers’ constituency MLC election. The event is being organised in support of BJP candidate Dhruv Kumar Tripathi.
