Karnal, Aug. 28 -- A day after Haryana agriculture minister Shyam Singh Rana said that the state government was alert regarding southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus' (SRBSDV) and the crop damage due to the virus has been recorded at about 5 to 10%, various farmer unions have rejected the claim and demanded a special girdwari with compensation to those affected.

While replying to a calling attention motion brought by some members in the House during the ongoing assembly session, Rana informed that out of about 40 lakh acres of sown paddy crop, approximately 92,000 acres have been found affected by this virus.

Reacting to the development,Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) (Tikait)statepresidentRattan Mannsaid that in fact, the loss is double...