Mumbai, May 8 (TOI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured CM Devendra Fadnavis that he will recommend a Rs 4000 crore proposal to the World Bank(WB) for making 5000 villages drought-free and enhance agriculture credit, crop insurance and financial assistance for irrigation projects in suicide and drought prone areas in Vidarbha and Marathwada.

"It was a very positive interaction with the Prime Minister.We made a presentation on the worst ever drought situation and presented the status of ongoing irrigation projects in suicide and drought prone areas.We are sure, the PM will come to our rescue," Fadnavis said.

Accompanied by a battery of high-ranking bureaucrats led by chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya, Fadnavis made a presentation before the PM on the measures taken by his government to tackle drought.

On his government's intervention in 14 suicide-prone districts, Fadnavis said all farmer families are being provided wheat at Rs 2 and rice at Rs 3, nearly 5.7 lakh persons have been provided works under the emp loyment guarantee scheme, examination and tuition fees have been waived. "Under the ex isting insurance scheme, only 40% of the farmers are covered, we have urged the PM to enhance the coverage to 80% so that maximum number of farmers are eligible for the benefit," he said.

On additional agriculture credit and restructuring of crop loans, Fadnavis said that out of 136.43 lakh farmers in the state, 58.48 lakh farmers received loans in 2015, out of which 31.27 lakh were defaulters. "If the state has to cover 80 per cent farmers, additional first time 20 lakh farmer will have to be covered. For that, we require approval of additional credit plan of Rs15,000 crore in 2016-17.We will have to restructure the loans to make 4.33 lakh farmers eligible for fresh loans," he said.

Fadnavis has sought a special financial assistance of Rs 7187 crore for completing132 ongoing irrigation projects in 14 suicide-prone districts in Vidarbha and Marathwada for creation of 2.18 lakh hectare of irrigation potential. In addition, Rs 2,500 crore will be required for urgent completion of critical irrigation projects in drought-prone areas. "If funds are available, we will complete the projects in 3 years," he said.