Patil demands Rs 6,000 cr package to curb farmer deaths in Vidarbha

Mumbai, June 28 (UNI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil today said the State expects a package of Rs 6,000 crore for six districts in Vidarbha to curb suicides by debt-ridden farmers.

Speaking at the 19th annual general meeting of Maharashtra State Cooperative Cotton Producers Marketing Federation, Mr Patil said lack of irrigation was one of the reasons for the suicides and added that the Central government should provide money of Gosikhurd project considering it a national project. This project would be a boon for Vidarbha, he added.

He also said the state government has shown readiness to take a loan of Rs 16,000 crore to complete the irrigation projects.

He also stressed on the need to create special economic zones in Marathwada and Vidarbha for cotton crop.

Marketing Federation minister Harshwardhan Patil also announced that the state government would purchase cotton under cotton monopoly scheme at the support price announced by the Central government. He also said the government would request the Centre to increase the support price. He also said that the government would try to get maximum textile parks out of 25 sanctioned by Centre in Maharashtra.

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