Cong seeksurgent relief of 50,000 per hectare for farmers | Mumbai News

Mumbai: Senior Congress neta and former revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat on Monday asked chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to grant an urgent relief package of Rs 50,000 per hectare to farmers in thestate. “Instead of waiting for the formalities, such as on-the-spot survey and panchanamas, the revenue department should release a financial assistance of Rs 50,000 per hectare as immediate relief,” Thorat said.Thorat pointed out that the rains came when some of the major crops were ready for harvesting in May.Bananas and kesar mangoes have been severely damaged, tomatoes, onions and pomegranates, too, have been completely damaged. “Besides massive losses in the agriculture sector, houses have been damaged to a great extent. The rehabilitation work should be taken up on top priority and, above all, the agriculture minister should only make serious comments,” Thorat said.He alleged that at a time when the entire state is facing an agrarian crisis and farmers are suffering on all fronts, the state govt’s efforts to provide them basic relief appeartoo casual. “Farmers are completely devastated, they have absolutely no money, yet the govt shows no inclination to help them. Whether the aid comes from NDRF or SDRF, is irrelevant,” he said. Thorat said farmers need substantial financial assistance. “More shocking is the fact that the state govt has changed the eligibility criterion from three hectares to two hectares. The crop insurance schemes have become ineffective owing to changes in rules,” he said.Thorat also took a dig at his nephew, Satyajeet Tambe, who had made critical observations against the Congress leadership, descring his comments as childish.Mumbai: Senior Congress neta and former revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat on Monday asked chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to grant an urgent relief package of Rs 50,000 per hectare to farmers in thestate. “Instead of waiting for the formalities, such as on-the-spot survey and panchanamas, the revenue department should release a financial assistance of Rs 50,000 per hectare as immediate relief,” Thorat said.Thorat pointed out that the rains came when some of the major crops were ready for harvesting in May.Bananas and kesar mangoes have been severely damaged, tomatoes, onions and pomegranates, too, have been completely damaged. “Besides massive losses in the agriculture sector, houses have been damaged to a great extent. The rehabilitation work should be taken up on top priority and, above all, the agriculture minister should only make serious comments,” Thorat said.He alleged that at a time when the entire state is facing an agrarian crisis and farmers are suffering on all fronts, the state govt’s efforts to provide them basic relief appeartoo casual. “Farmers are completely devastated, they have absolutely no money, yet the govt shows no inclination to help them. Whether the aid comes from NDRF or SDRF, is irrelevant,” he said. Thorat said farmers need substantial financial assistance. “More shocking is the fact that the state govt has changed the eligibility criterion from three hectares to two hectares. The crop insurance schemes have become ineffective owing to changes in rules,” he said.Thorat also took a dig at his nephew, Satyajeet Tambe, who had made critical observations against the Congress leadership, descring his comments as childish.