Bihar government decides to provide diesel subsidy

PATNA: The Bihar government today decided to provide subsidy on diesel to the tune of Rs 769.06 crore to meet the challenges of drought-like situation in the state.

Decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of state cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

It also decided to allocate Rs 14.43 crore for accidental crop insurance scheme, Principal Secretary, Cabinet Coordination Brajesh Mehrotra told reporters briefing about the cabinet meeting.

Each farmer would get a diesel subsidy of Rs 750 per acre for three irrigations of his field, Mehrotra said.

Due to inadequate monsoon so far, many parts of the state is witnessing a drought like situation.

Among other decisions, the Bihar Cabinet approved a proposal to pay arrears of pensioners of the age of 80 and above in one go as compared to those in three instalments for others.

It also gave green signal to proposal to set up liquor testing laboratory in districts, Mehrotra said.