Farmers to get loans at six per cent interest

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, May 15 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today declared that from this Kharif Season onwards the farmers in the state will be provided with loans at the interest rate of 6 per cent.

The district central cooperative banks have been directed to disburse the loans according to new arrangements. He was speaking to reporters after reviewing the Kharif Season 2006 in Marathwada here today.

Deshmukh also announced that about 30,000 power connections would be issued to the farmers soon. He pointed out that there was a demand for 47000 power connections in the state.

Marathwada is expected to have a good yield of sugarcane this year. Due to which efforts would be made to revive the sick sugar factories or other factories would be encouraged to adopt the sick units of the region, he said adding that also central government has been approached to make necessary changes in the present law dealing with seeds and fertilizers, so that strict action could be taken against the people engaged in sale of bogus seeds.

To a question on farmers' suicides, the Chief Minister said,''We have given a package for the farmers. Unfortunately, still the farmers are committing suicides. It is up to the non-government organizations to approach the farmers and do counseling among them.

Rs 750 crore have been earmarked for the farmers who suffered losses due to the recent hailstorm in the state.' He was accompanied by the minister in charge of the district Dr Patangrao Kadam, Agriculture minister Babasaheb Thorat and the EGS and Marketing Harshvardhan Patil.

Earlier, the Chief Minister visited Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) to inquire about the heath of about 40 people who sustained injuries last week at a Dhaba in Kanchanwadi area, when a cooking gas cylinder explided . He promised every possible cooperation to the relatives of the people who suffered burns. The dean of the GMCH Dr Veena Patil apprised Deshmukh of the treatment being given to the burn patients.

UNI XR/VKB RL VC2011