Maha CM Fadnavis announces Rs 10,000 crore relief for farmers

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday in a press conference announced to release a relief amount of Rs. 10,000 crore to the farmers of the State who have faced major losses due to unseasonal rains. The Chief Minister has announced the decision after a meeting of sub-committee of Cabinet at his residence. In the meeting, a detailed discussion was done on how the crops and fisheries were affected. The CM also said that the government is with the farmers.

CM Fadnavis chaired a meeting of district collectors

On Friday, the CM chaired a meeting of district collectors to take stock of the situation in the areas affected by unseasonal rains. He also issued directions for rapid relief work. Devendra Fadnavis also noted that the recent unseasonal rains in the State have destroyed the harvested crops and the farmers have suffered heavy losses due to the same. While speaking to news agency ANI on Friday, he said, "Maharashtra has witnessed unseasonal and unprecedented rains recently, due to which the farmers have suffered a huge loss across the State. I held a meeting today with the district collectors and the officers of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to discuss this issue."

Massive damage done to the crops

The CM said that initial evaluation shows crops on 54.22 lakh hectare spread across 325 talukas in half a dozen districts have been damaged. The damaged crops include jawar, paddy, cotton, and soybean. CM Fadnavis said that respective district administration has been instructed to complete the 'panchnama' (damage assessment exercise) by next week. "Even if that doesn't happen (by next week), farmers will get financial aid. But, we want the panchnama to be done so that maximum assistance can be provided," he said.

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A central team to be sent to Maharashtra

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that a central team will be sent to Maharashtra to assess the damage caused to crops due to unseasonal rains in parts of the State. Shah has conveyed this to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, according to an official statement issued by the Raj Bhavan on Thursday evening. The Centre's response came after the Governor called up Shah to apprise him about the damage to crops caused by floods and unseasonal rains in Maharashtra in the recent weeks, the statement said. Also, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray, along with a party delegation, met Koshyari on Thursday evening and sought his intervention in providing relief to farmers and fishermen affected by post-monsoon rains.

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