Haryana govt waives off interest on loans

Kurukshetra, Apr 1 (UNI) The Haryana Government has decided to waive off the interest on loans taken by the rural artisans and small shop-keepers from cooperative banks in case they return the principal amount by June 30, which would benefit eight lakh people to the tune of Rs 553 crore, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said here today.

While addressing a mammoth public meeting at Pehowa in this district, Mr Hooda said that likewise, the interest of those farmers who would return the principal amount of their loans taken from Haryana State Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank within the stipulated period would also be waived off. This decision would benefit 1.40 lakh farmers to the tune of Rs 217 crore.

The Chief Minister said the Haryana Government had taken a number of measures for the welfare of every section of the society, especially the farmers. He said the price of sugarcane had been fixed at Rs 138 per quintal, which was the highest in the country. He added the Minimum Support Price (MPS) of wheat had also been increased by Rs 200 during the last one year, which was highest ever.

Referring to the damage caused to the crops due to heavy rainfall and hailstorm in the months of February and March, he said the farmers would be given compensation soon. He added the Government had provided power to the farmers even by purchasing it at a higher rate of Rs 7 to Rs 8 per unit so that the hardwork put in by them throughout the year did not go waste.

The Dadupur-Shahbad-Nalvi canal was being constructed at a cost of Rs 267 crore and the work to construct Rs 350 crore Bhakra Mainline Hansi Butana multi-purpose canal was in full swing, Mr Hooda said.

There would be no shortage of power in the State in the coming 2-3 years, he said adding that the first the first unit of Yamunanagar Thermal Power Plant would be completed by November 2007 and its second unit by February 2008. Similarly, a 1,200 MW power plant was being set up at Hisar and 1500 MW power plant at Jhajjar.

UNI