VALPOI: Farmers of Sattari taluka have threatened to agitate if compensation for agricultural losses is not paid to them before Diwali.
Following heavy rainfall in July, flooding in Sattari taluka severely impacted agriculturists.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant and agriculture minister Chandrakant Kavalekar had promised compensation to farmers before Ganesh Chaturthi, which is yet to be fulfilled, the farmers said.
One farmer, Ranjit Rane warned the government that all of them along with their families will descend on the streets and protest in front of the deputy collector’s office in Sattari taluka if they do not receive the compensation before Diwali.
Rane criticised the government for not cooperating with the farmers. He said that the heavy rainfall and subsequent floods in July caused major damage to crops and plantations in Sattari taluka.
He said that the zonal agricultural office of Sattari has estimated a loss of around Rs 50 lakh in the taluka, with Velus, Sonal, Khotode, Uste, Keri, Sanvordem, Bhironda, Advoi, Mauxi, Padeli, Massordem and Guleli villages being the most affected.
Rane said that farmers in Sattari solely depend on agricultural produce and that the deluge had destroyed their crops. Banana, arecanut, cashew and coconut plantation were destroyed besides agriculture crops. “Since all the plantations were destroyed due to the floods, the farmers faced financial problems in celebrating Ganesh Chathurti,” he said.
Farmers Dattaram More, Ganesh Paryekar, Rohini Gaonkar and Shweta More said that they will fight till they get the compensation as they are facing a financial crisis.
