Maharashtra Government Pays Rs. 1,507 crore to Drought-hit Farmers

Maharashtra Finance Minister, Sudhir Mungantiwar on 27^th February said that financial assistance of Rs. 1,507 crore has been credited into the bank accounts of 42 lakh farmers affected by drought in the state. Mungantiwar said Rs. 2,909 crore have been allotted for this purpose.

The Minister while presenting a vote-on-account in the Legislative Assembly said that 82, 27,166 growers in 151 tehsils with land holding of 85.76 lakh hectares were badly affected by the drought.

He further told that financial assistance for these cultivators has been fixed at - Rs. 6,800 for dry land, Rs. 13,500 for assured irrigated area and Rs. 18,000 /hectare for multi-year crop area, subject to a limit of 2 hectares.

The finance minister said till 23^rd February, Rs. 1,507 crore was transferred into the accounts of 42 lakh farmers. In addition, Rs. 2,000 crore was sanctioned from the contingency fund for the cultivators.

He said other relief measures for drought-hit regions include exemption from land revenue, exemption from exam fee, restructuring of loans taken from co-operative banks, stay to recovery of agricultural loans, drinking water supply by tankers wherever needed and relaxation in criteria for grant of works under Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Mungantiwar also said that electricity connection of agricultural pump-sets will not be severed in these regions (even though there is default on bill payment).

The state government has also declared drought in 268 'revenue circles' & 5,449 villages where the agricultural output is expected to drop by more than 50 %.

He added that the Union government has approved Rs. 4,714 crore as aid for agricultural losses and provision of drinking water & fodder.

The finance minister also told that Rs. 3,366 crore have been given out to farmers whose crops were spoiled by the pink bollworm pest.