Maharashtra sees 479 farmer suicides in March-April; aid hike not being considered, says minister
Mumbai, Jul 4 (PTI): A total of 479 farmer suicides were reported in Maharashtra in March and April this year, state relief and rehabilitation minister Makrand Patil said in the assembly on Friday.
In a written reply during Question Hour, he said 250 farmer suicides were reported in March in Marathwada and Vidarbha, while 229 suicides were reported statewide in April.
Of the 250 cases in March, 102 were found to be eligible for financial aid as per government rules, with amounts being disbursed in 77 cases.
A total of 62 were found to be ineligible, while inquiries are pending in 86 cases, Patil added.
"In April, 229 farmers committed suicide. Of these, 74 were found to be eligible for aid. Funds were released in 33 of these 74 cases," the minister informed the House.
As per a government resolution (GR) of January 24, 2006, farmer suicides due to crop failure, inability to repay loan from nationalized and cooperative banks or licensed money lenders, burgeoning debt etc are considered eligible for financial aid. The kin of such farmers are given Rs 1 lakh.
A hike in the financial aid is not under consideration, the minister said.
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Bridge collapse in Jammu: 3 bodies, 1 injured pulled out from rubble; probe ordered
Jammu (PTI): Rescue workers pulled out three bodies and an injured person from the debris of a partially collapsed old bridge during a 12-hour search operation on the outskirts of Jammu, officials said on Saturday.
One injured worker was rescued on Friday, shortly after a portion of the bridge collapsed in the Thuther area of Bantalab.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary rushed to the spot at midnight and ordered the suspension of two engineers. The government has also constituted a committee to probe the incident.
According to the officials, labourers were carrying out retaining wall and foundation-laying work on the bridge, which was damaged in flash floods last year, when a portion of it gave way, trapping four of them.
Police, Army, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, and fire and emergency department immediately launched a rescue operation. The rescue teams first pulled out a labourer, who was identified as Tarsem Lal, the officials said.
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"The search and rescue operation concluded this morning. Three bodies have been recovered from the spot. Two others have been rescued in injured condition," a senior officer told PTI.
The bodies were recovered during the 12-hour search operation, which went on through the night under floodlights, the officials said.
Among the two injured was Divisional Fire Officer, Fire and Emergency Services Department, Mohammad Jaffar, who was hit by a boulder during the rescue operation. The injured have been hospitalised.
Deputy Chief Minister Choudhary was briefed about the incident after he reached the spot at midnight.
"I have ordered the suspension of the assistant executive engineer and the junior engineer. I have also issued directions to the engineer-in-chief for attachment of the executive engineer," he told reporters at the spot.
Choudhary ordered a probe into the incident and directed the authorities to complete it in five days.
Following his order, Assistant Executive Engineer Sahil Verma and Junior Engineer Sajad Mir were placed under suspension, pending inquiry into their conduct, the officials said.
The government has also constituted a three-member inquiry committee headed by Purshotam Kumar, Secretary Technical (Engineer-in-Chief), Public Works (R&B) Department, they said.
Superintendent Engineer, Public Works (R&B), Circle Jammu South, Arit Gupta, and Executive Engineer, Public Works (R&B) Satwari division, Rajan Mengi are members of the panel, they said.
