Farm loan waiver not on Gujarat govt's mind, hints Deputy CM
Ahmedabad, Dec 19: Terming farm loan waiver a "short-term solution", Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel Wednesday hinted that the BJP government in the state did not have any immediate plans to write off farmers' debts.
He made the remarks in the wake of the newly-formed Congress governments in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh announcing farm loan waivers, fulfilling a promise made by the party ahead of the Assembly polls.
Asked whether farmers in Gujarat could expect a similar relief here, Patel said the government had different plans, which were more effective than farm loan waivers.
"Farm loan waiver is a short-term solution. Our aim is to offer a permanent solution to them. We want to make farmers prosperous. That is why our government spends crores of rupees on implementing various pro-farmer schemes through various departments," Patel told reporters in Gandhinagar.
He listed various steps taken by the state government, such as providing electricity to farmers for 10 hours and implementing drip irrigation.
"We are taking such steps for the overall growth of farmers. Our government's method is different (from other states). Some states may have a different approach. Our ultimate goal is to provide a permanent solution and make farmers happy," Patel added.
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Man arrested with Rs 2.54-crore heroin in Mumbai
Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.
The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.
Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.
The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.
Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.
The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.
