MP warns Shivamogga IndiGo flights may stop, seeks funds, licence renewal, and airport upgrades.
Shivamogga
Shivamogga has witnessed extensive damage to arecanut plantations following recent unseasonal heavy winds and rains, prompting calls for higher compensation for affected farmers.
B.Y. Raghavendra urged the Karnataka government to announce a special relief package of 1 lakh per hectare for farmers who suffered crop losses in Holenarasipura and Harnahalli hoblis. He said thousands of hectares of arecanut plantations have been severely damaged, leaving farmers in distress.
Speaking at a press briefing, he noted that the current compensation of 31,000 per hectare is inadequate to cover the actual losses. He referenced earlier relief measures implemented under the leadership of B.S. Yediyurappa, when higher compensation packages were sanctioned for natural disaster-affected farmers.
Reports indicate that nearly 10,000 hectares of agricultural land have been affected across Shivamogga and Bhadravati taluks, with a large portion of arecanut trees destroyed. The storm also caused damage to electricity infrastructure, houses, and roofing materials, further disrupting daily life in rural areas.
Raghavendra said the scale of destruction resembled a disaster zone, with fallen arecanut trees and damaged plantations widespread across villages. He stressed the need for accurate and timely assessment of losses using digital tools such as the Bhoomi software system, ensuring that compensation reaches farmers without delay.
He also criticized the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, stating that both state and central mechanisms must work more efficiently to support affected cultivators.
The MP reiterated that the government should act swiftly to announce enhanced compensation, warning that delays could worsen the financial hardship of farmers already struggling due to repeated weather-related crop damage.
