Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 26: The NCP(SP) on Friday questioned the Maharashtra government over its decision to declare drought under “Trigger-1” in 265 talukas, saying the relief measures announced so far largely comprise concessions and administrative steps, while compensation for actual crop losses has been kept pending.
NCP(SP) senior leader Mahesh Tapase said the government resolution issued by the Relief and Rehabilitation Department on September 25 includes measures such as exemption from land revenue, restructuring of crop loans, deferment of loan recovery, concessions on agricultural electricity bills, waiver of examination fees and relaxation of norms under the employment guarantee scheme.
The resolution also provides for arrangements for water tankers, fodder and drinking water, Tapase said.
However, he pointed out that the government resolution states that financial assistance for crop losses would be considered separately after completion of panchnamas, or field-level assessments of crop damage.
“The government has declared drought in 265 out of 358 talukas and yet, in the very same order, it says compensation for the farmers’ actual losses will come later, after further paperwork and survey. Farmers whose crops have already failed cannot survive on promises of a future GR,” Tapase said.
He demanded that the government set a firm deadline for completing panchnamas and disbursing interim as well as final crop-loss compensation across all 265 talukas.
“Every year we see the same sequence — a GR is issued, some relief is announced, and the real compensation is pushed to after the survey. By then, the season is over and farmers have already borrowed money at high interest just to survive,” Tapase said.
Tapase also referred to NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar’s September 16 letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in which Pawar had sought an immediate relief package of at least Rs 50,000 per hectare along with other measures.
Tapase asked the government to clarify when farmers would actually receive crop-loss compensation in their bank accounts.