PATNA, Oct. 1 -- The state agriculture department is ready to start verifying over 200,000 applications received from farmers for compensation against crop losses in 18 districts hit by floods in recent weeks, following heavy discharge from rivers in Nepal and states like Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh. Officials said crop damages occurred in around 100,000 hectares across 18 districts during the floods a couple of weeks ago. Sources said the agricultural input subsidy as compensation for crop damages per NDRF (National Disaster Response Fund) norms, would be provided to eligible beneficiaries within next two weeks after verifying the applications. "We will start processing the applications through our field officers. Once the verification is complete, the input subsidy for paddy and horticulture crop damages, as per NDRF norms, will begin," said an official familiar with the matter. The state government has already sought Rs.250 crore from the Centre for input subsidy for crop damages to farmers following a visit of a central team headed by Union agriculture and farmers' welfare minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. There are also indications that the state government might invite fresh applications for giving compensation to farmers who suffered crop damages in the flash floods in West Champaran and adjoining districts in last few days as the turbulent Gandak river breached several embankments and inundated swathes of low-lying areas. State agriculture minister Vijay Kumar Sinha stressed that raiyat and non-raiyat farmers would be able to get benefit from the input subsidy and the input subsidy would be provided as per the NDRF norms....