Bengaluru, May 29: Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who has said that he would declare the issue of loan waiver on Wednesday, is likely to follow Andhra and Telangana model in waiving off the farmers loans.

After holding a marathon meeting with the officials of the Finance department at his home office Krishna here on Tuesday, Kumaraswamy got information on pros and cons of waiving off Rs 53,000 crore farm loans on the state exchequer. The officials said that both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have waived off farmers loans to the tune of Rs 22,000 crore and Rs 17,000 crore respectively and they have been paying the concerned banks in installments.  

After waiver off the loan amount, the government has to pay the amount to the banks in installments. As the governments have given security for financial transactions, the banks have agreed for this method. Now, the CM has discussed with the officials on following this model in the state, it is said.

Even the Chief Minister is also aware of the fact that it is impossible to pay Rs 53,000 crore at a time. Keeping this in mind, he has planned to follow Andhra and Telangana model. Sources said that the officials of the Finance department have also agreed for this proposal.

Meanwhile, the officials also have given suggestions on accumulating the additional amount to be paid in installments to the banks in order to ease the financial burden on the government. After holding the meeting with the leaders of the farmers’ organizations, the Chief Minister is likely to announce his decision, it is said.

Amidst the tug of war between JDS and Congress over getting finance portfolio, the Congress high command has given a green signal to keep the Finance Portfolio with the Chief Minister himself. When Kumaraswamy expressed his helplessness as the Chief Minister without Finance portfolio, the Congress high command changed its decision, it is said.

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Panaji (PTI): Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the fire at a nightclub which claimed 25 lives.

Speaking to PTI, Sawant said an FIR has been lodged against the owner and the general manager of the nightclub and they would be arrested.

The fire broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane after midnight. The popular party venue at Arpora village, located around 25 km from the state capital Panaji, opened last year.

CM Sawant, in a post on X, said, "I am closely reviewing the situation arising from the tragic fire incident at Arpora, in which 25 people have lost their lives and six have been injured." 

"All six injured persons are in a stable condition and are receiving the best medical care. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry into the entire incident to identify the cause and fix responsibility," he said.

Speaking to PTI, Sawant said the police have registered an FIR against the owner and the general manager of the nightclub, and they would be arrested.

He said this is the first time that such an incident has happened in Goa. 

A preliminary inquiry has indicated that the fire started on the first floor of the club, and due to congestion and small doors, the customers could not move out, the CM said.

"Some of them rushed to the ground floor and got trapped there," he said.