Punjab: Haque panel report on farm debt waiver in day or two

An expert panel on farm debt- waiver is likely to submit its final report to the Punjab government in a day or two even as Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said his government was committed to waive the debt of 10.25 lakh small and marginal farmers.
"A final report (on debt-waiver) will be submitted to the state government in a day or two," T Haque, who is leading the expert panel, said today.
Opposition parties have been attacking the Congress government for "not being able" to waive farm debts. The government is also under attack by the SAD-BJP and AAP on the issue of farmer suicides.

Moreover, there are reports from several parts of the state that farmers have stopped repayment of bank loans in anticipation of debt-waiver.
The Punjab government had in April set up the expert panel under Haque, former chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Price, to assess the quantum of agricultural debt, and suggest ways for its waiver.
It was initially asked to submit its report within 60 days.

Meanwhile, Amarinder today said in Amritsar his government is committed to waive debt of 10.25 lakh small and marginal farmers.
"The Haque panel is now working on some other key issues concerning the farming community and will soon submit its final report," said Amarinder.

With farm debt waiver package being pegged at about Rs 10,000 crore, the Amarinder government had promised total waiver of entire crop loans up to Rs 2 lakh for small and marginal farmers (up to 5 acres), and a flat Rs 2 lakh relief for all other marginal farmers, irrespective of their loan amount which would benefit 10.25 lakh growers.