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The Times of India
The Times of India
National
TNN

Maharashtra cabinet doubles compensation for farmers

MUMBAI: State cabinet on Wednesday cleared a proposal to double the compensation for farmers who were affected by heavy rains in July.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also increased the cap of land holding for which the compensation will be given from two-three hectares to benefit the farmers from Vidarbha who have large land holding. Shinde made the announcement after the first meeting of his expanded cabinet. The additional amount will be paid from the state's exchequer, said officials.

So far 15.6 lakh hectare of land has been affected, which is likely to go up as fresh bouts of heavy rainfall are being experienced in the state. The state is expected to pay Rs 2,200 crore towards the compensation. "Last year at the end of the monsoon season, there was 50 lakh hectare of cropped land that was affected and the state had paid up-to Rs 6,000 crore as compensation," said an official, adding, "Earlier NDRF norms were applicable for damage to crops on maximum of two hectare. We have decided to change it to three hectares," added.

Leader of opposition Ajit Pawar on Wednesday described as an eye wash the financial assistance declared by the Eknath Shinde government for the flood affected farmers. We demand that a financial assistance of Rs 75,000 per hectare for land under irrigation and Rs 1.5 lakh for horticulture land and that the ceiling of three hectare must be removed forthwith,'' Pawar said. TNN

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