Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis announces Rs 7000 crore package for farmers

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced a mega package of Rs 7,000 crore and vowed that he would make the state drought free by 2019. Over 400 farmers have committed suicide in the last one month in Maharashtra due to drought and debts.

Announcing a number of sops to prevent suicides, Fadnavis said in the state assembly that farmers from the Marathwada and Vidarbha region who have taken loans from nationalised and co-operative banks will have their loans rescheduled and interest on loans that come up to Rs 380 crore would be paid by the government. Similarly around five lakh farmers who have taken loans from licensed money lenders will have debts cleared by the government.

Fadnavis said that since farmers have not been able to pay off their electricity bills, he has decided to give them a one-time waiver to farmers from the Marathwada and Vidarbha region.

"The electricity bills will be waived off for three months for farmers from Vidarbha and Marathawada region starting September. The state government will pay Rs 215 crore against the power bills to MAHADISCOM," the chief minister said.

Fadnavis said that the state would spend Rs 34,500 crore in the next five years to ensure that the state is drought free. This would entail adopting an integrated watershed management programme and building cement canals that will bring 5 lakh hectares under irrigation.