Contrary to the preliminary estimates which indicated that the crops worth Rs 100 crore were damaged in the district due to the recent rains, the official estimates are only showing a loss of around Rs 20 crore. Farmer allege that though crops in more than 40,000 hectare were damaged, the official estimates are showing the damage only in a total of 16,414 hectare. The huge gap between the official estimates and the farmers' estimates will negatively reflect in the payment of compensation to the farmers, who incurred heavy losses due to the untimely rains during the last week. Due to the four-day long heavy rains and the overcast weather conditions prevailing till now, the farmers who went for the cultivation of chilli and maize have incurred heavy losses as the standing crops have got totally damaged. Even the harvested chilli produce too got discoloured adding to further losses. The official loss estimates report stated that the chilli in a total of 6,188 hectare and maize in a total of 7, 869 hectare got damaged and the over all crop damage inclusive of all crops was reported in 16,414 hectare. But farmers contend that the chilli in Narsampet division alone got damaged in more than 5,000 hectare and the losses in Mahabubabad and Mulug divisions were also heavy. Even the conservative estimates would put that the chilli crop damage area would be more than 10,000 hectare. However, district collector B. Janardhan Reddy directed the agriculture, horticulture and the revenue staff to assess the complete loss and submit a detailed report to him by March 31. The final loss report might increase the extent of loss in the district Meanwhile, the state government has decided to a pay compensation of Rs 4,500 per hectare of chilli or paddy crop loss and Rs 3,500 per hectare of maize crop loss. Angered over the paltry compensation package, TRS district unit president Peddi Sudarshan Reddy submitted a memorandum to the district collector demanding a compensation of Rs 30,000 per acre of chilli crop loss and Rs 10,000 per hectare of maize crop loss. He called for the payment of Rs 5,000 compensation for the loss of one acre of fruit crops and vegetable farmers.