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Gandhinagar, Oct 29 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Gujarat State Cabinet in Gandhinagar to review the situation arising out of unseasonal rains that lashed several parts of the state last week, causing significant damage to standing crops.
Giving information to the media after the meeting, state government spokesperson and minister Jitu Vaghani said that the Chief Minister has expressed deep concern and sympathy towards the affected farmers.
He directed officials to immediately start survey of damage in all affected districts under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms and complete it within seven days.
According to preliminary data from the State Emergency Operations Centre, moderate to very heavy rainfall was recorded in 239 talukas in 33 districts between October 23 and 28. Initial estimates suggest that more than 10 lakh hectares of agricultural land has been affected.
Minister Vaghani said that the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have directed the officials to ensure that no farmer is deprived of the relief structure.
“To expedite assistance, surveys will be conducted using advanced technology and agricultural monitoring systems along with ground verification,” he said.
In view of the ongoing crop cycle, the Agriculture Department has also issued a special agricultural advisory, providing district-wise scientific guidelines for the protection and management of standing crops.
The advisory outlines precautionary measures and crop care strategies to help farmers minimize losses.
Assuring the farmers, Minister Vaghani said, “By providing assistance, the government is not doing any favor – it is fulfilling its moral responsibility. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state government has always stood firmly with the farmers and will continue to do so.”
The Chief Minister has directed all Cabinet Ministers to immediately visit the affected areas to directly assess the ground situation.
Meanwhile, he continues to monitor the developments in real time from Gandhinagar to ensure prompt action and coordinated relief efforts.
–IANS
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