Decision will be out in next two weeks: CM
‘Committed to waive off farm loans’
Bengaluru, May 30: Saying that the government is committed to waive off the farm loans of the farmers in the state, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that the decision would be taken within next two weeks after taking all aspects into account.
After holding a meeting with the representatives of farmers organizations, and opposition leaders at the Conference Hall of the Vidhana Soudha in the city on Wednesday, the CM said that besides maintaining the financial discipline, the government would also take steps to protect the interests of the farmers. The crop loans availed between April 2009 and December 31, 2017 would be waived off. Moreover, he would shortly hold a meeting with the higher officers of nationalized banks on the farmers loans and take a decision, he said.
The decision on waiving off the loans of those who have been paying tax for more than Rs 4 lakh income, availed loans in commercial banks in city corporation limits, doing other business in crop loans and the loans taken by the elected representatives would be taken after getting the suggestion from the experts, he said.
Loan waiver in two phases
In the first phase, the crop loans availed by the small and marginal farmers would be written off. In the second phase, the government would appoint the respective deputy commissioners as nodal officers for waiving the loans and the farmers who have taken loan for purchasing tractors and agriculture equipment and other agriculture activities should give the details about their loans within 10-15 days, he said.
The farmers have taken loan to the tune of Rs 52,000 crore in nationalized banks. In total, the farmers have Rs 1.14 lakh crore loans, in which, the central government also has the share. Besides waiving off the loans, the coalition government would plan a policy to make their life better, the CM said.
Clearance certificate
Loan waiver scheme should not be misused and the middlemen should not get the benefits out of it. In view of this, the government would send the loan Clearance Certificates to the door steps of the farmers. The cabinet would be expanded within a couple of days. As soon as AICC president Rahul Gandhi returned from foreign trip, he would discuss with him the loan waiver plan and waive off the loans, he said.
The farmers should follow the suggestions of the agriculture department on crop pattern based on the available water and rain. This would stop falling of prices of agriculture produces. The government would also take steps to ensure good price to the produces, he said.
The size of the state budget is Rs 2 lakh crore and Rs 52,000 crore should be earmarked for loan waiver. Apart from this, agriculture, irrigation, social welfare, health and other sectors need financial assistance. Just to provide river water instead of bore water for drinking purpose in the state, the government would require over Rs 40,000 crore, he said.
Deputy leader of the Opposition Party Govind M Karjol, Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar, Chief Secretary Ratnaprabha, farmers leaders Maruti Manpade, Kodihalli Chandrashekar, Basavarajappa, Sunanda Jayaram, Chamarasa Mali Patil and others were present at the meeting.
‘Don’t do petty politics’
Opposition leader and BJP State president BS Yeddyurappa was invited for the meeting of the farmers leaders to discuss the farm loan waiver issue. But citing the Mangaluru visit, Yeddyurappa did not come to the meeting. But he should stop doing petty politics in the name of farmers by sitting at home, said CM Kumaraswamy.
Experts panel required
Congress-JDS coalition government does not have any difference over loan waiver. Congress is committed to waive off the farm loans. But an experts panel needs to be formed to review the farm loans. Agriculture produces should get good price. Farmers, labourers and youth should lead a good life. The coalition government would try to ensure this, said deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwar.
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4.2 magnitude earthquake recorded in north Gujarat's Patan district; no damage
Ahmedabad, Nov 15: An earthquake of 4.2 magnitude was recorded in Patan district of north Gujarat on Friday night, the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said.
While people came out of their houses after feeling the seismic movement, no casualty or loss of property was reported in the region, officials of the state control room in Gandhinagar said.
The quake was recorded at 10:15 pm with its epicentre located 13 km south south-west of Patan, the Gandhinagar-based ISR said.
Reports from northern districts of Banaskantha, Patan, Sabarkantha and Mehsana claimed that tremors were felt for two to three seconds.
The state has suffered nine major earthquakes in the past 200 years including the devastating earthquake of January 26, 2001, in Kutch district, as per the data provided by the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA).
