Surat. Unseasonal rainfall over the past five days has caused extensive damage to the standing paddy crop across Surat and several other districts of South Gujarat. To assess the situation firsthand, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi visited the affected farmlands in Olpad taluka today.
As per report, breaking official protocol, Sanghavi removed his shoes and personally walked through the muddy fields between Selut and Dihen villages in Olpad taluka. He inspected the damaged paddy crop closely, holding the wet stalks in his hands to examine the extent of the losses. His gesture was seen as an effort by the state government to truly understand the farmers’ distress beyond official reports.
Accompanied by Olpad MLA Mukesh Patel and officials from the Agriculture Department, Sanghavi directed that an immediate assessment of the crop damage be initiated. The visit also witnessed a deeply emotional moment when a woman farmer, drying her damaged paddy on the roadside, broke down in tears while narrating her ordeal to the Deputy Chief Minister.
Sanghavi consoled the farmers and urged them to stay strong. He assured them that Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel had taken the situation very seriously and that ministers had already been deployed across affected regions to expedite field surveys and ensure a fair compensation process for every farmer.
During his interaction, several farmers also raised concerns about canal repair works. In response, Sanghavi promised to strongly present the matter before the Chief Minister to ensure that repair work on the irrigation canals begins next year, offering some reassurance to the distressed farmers.
