Mere govt compensation won't help farmers: Fadnavis

Farmers will have to change the crop pattern to adopt to the climate changes, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said, addressing a farmer's rally here.
The state government would give thousands of crore of rupees in compensation (during drought, etc.,), but mere compensation wouldn't solve the farmers' problems, he said.
"To irrigate land, the government will construct five lakh farm-ponds," he said, adding that the government's water conservation scheme, 'Jalyukt Shivar', was proving to be a boon for the farmers in the face of drought.
"Jalyukt Shivar scheme is being implemented without any land acquisition," he noted.
The government was going to set up 11 textile parks which would benefit the farmers and generate employment, he said, adding that a Seeds Park would be set up in Jalna.

Activists of the CPI showed red flags and shouted slogans against the government and the Chief Minister for "anti-farmer and anti-labour" policies during the speech.

Maharashtra government will enact a new law on dance bar
ban, Fadnavis said.
The Supreme Court had struck down only one of the 22 pre-condtions (for reopening the dance bars) laid down by the government and so far nobody had fulfilled these conditions, he said.
To a qustion on his reported remarks on senior officials not implementing policies and directives, Fadnavis said, "The higher administration drives the policy, and there is an attempt to ensure government views percolate down the line.

"Elected representatives and bureaucrats should respect each other," he said, adding "almost 80 per cent" of disputes between them arise because of ego rather than genuine differences.
On demands by allies for expansion of the state ministry, Fadnavis said talks were on with alliance partners. "I am confident that we will give them place in the ministry soon," he said.