Mumbai, May 13 (PTI) Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday assured mango and cashew growers in the Konkan region that the state government would not abandon them after large-scale crop losses caused by unseasonal rains and climate change.
Speaking to a delegation of orchard owners at the Mantralaya here, he said a final decision on compensation would be taken after detailed discussions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The meeting was held in the backdrop of a proposed march by growers seeking a farm loan waiver and enhanced financial assistance for losses suffered by mango and cashew orchards in Konkan.
Bawankule said the state government was committed to extending maximum possible relief to affected farmers, and directed the administration to complete the damage assessment surveys urgently and transparently.
He instructed district collectors of Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri and Raigad to expedite the survey process and submit reports at the earliest.
Farmers’ leader Raju Shetti, who was present at the meeting, said the assistance of Rs 22,000 per hectare as announced by the government was inadequate and demanded a compensation of Rs 5 lakh per hectare for mango orchards and Rs 3 lakh per hectare for cashew plantations, along with National Disaster Response Fund support and a loan waiver.
Former MP Vinayak Raut urged the Centre to send a team to assess the losses and sought an end to alleged hurdles created by the Food and Drug Administration.
Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap demanded a compensation of Rs 5,000 per mango tree and Rs 3,000 per cashew tree, and called for government intervention to prevent insurance companies from delaying payouts.
Taking note of complaints against insurers, Bawankule said the matter would be investigated, and asserted that farmers must receive their rightful dues.
“The orchard grower from Konkan is a pillar of Maharashtra’s economy. Given the scale of the crisis, our government is committed to going beyond technical norms and extending the maximum possible financial support,” the minister said. PTI MR NP
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