Illegal felling, forest fires making weather erratic: Theog MLA athore

A day after hailstorm caused a massive damage to apple, stone fruits and vegetables in the upper Shimla area, Kuldeep Rathore, MLA from the Theog Assembly constituency, said illegal felling of trees in the apple belt, forest fires and projects could be the reasons behind the increasingly erratic and stormy weather in the apple belt.

“The weather has become very erratic over the years, causing massive damage to the fruit growers. Along with global warming, local factors like the continuing illegal felling of forests, inadequate tree plantation and forest fires in the summer could be the reasons behind the changing weather. We need to develop a long-term weather plan,” said Rathore.

Demanding that the government should immediately send revenue officers to the affected areas for the assessment of loss, Rathore urged the government to postpone the repayment of interest on the loans taken by the affected growers till next year. He also sought subsidy on pesticides the growers and farmers.

He also raised a question mark on the role of anti-hail guns set up in some areas, saying that it might be diverting hailstone to other areas which do not have anti-hail guns. “Some growers feel that anti-hail guns might be diverting the hailstone to the areas which do not have these guns. It needs to be studied and if the apprehension is found correct in the study, these guns should be installed in our areas as well,” he said.

Himachal Tribune