Maha CM promises compensation to farmers for crop loss in hailstorm

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today said the government was concerned over the loss of crops due to recent hailstorm in different parts of the state and promised speedy compensation to farmers.

Making a statement in the Legislative Assembly, Chavan said the hailstorm occurred only in certain areas and enquiries are on with IMD as to whether it was because of global warming. There were crop losses in 1,36,000 hectares spread across 94 talukas of 13 districts, including Nagpur, Yavatmal, Amravati, Wardha, Nanded and Dhule, he said. Statutory orders for compensation as per the new guidelines of the state disaster relief fund have been issued.

"A decision regarding additional relief will be taken in Cabinet meeting after getting complete details. Government will work to ensure how the farmers would get help through banks as some district co-operative banks in these places are defunct," Chavan said.

The chief minister also said that he would hold a video conference with collectors tomorrow to get a first hand information regarding the losses suffered. Ministers have been asked to tour the affected areas tomorrow, he said.

Farmers were breathing easy after a good monsoon and there were hopes of good crop but the hailstorm has rendered them helpless, he expressed.

Earlier, the Lower House had to be adjourned twice when the Opposition members made a forceful demand for compensation to the farmers. The members were in the Well shouting slogans. They said heavy rains and hailstorm affected onion, cotton, sugar, banana crop on February 23 and 24 in Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon, Pune, Ahmednagar, Bhandara, Nagpur, Amravati and Yavatmal.