Maharashtra government hikes emergency funds to Rs2,150 crore

The state cabinet on Tuesday decided to increase the emergency funds from Rs150 crore to Rs2,150 crore for this year so that the drought-hit farmers in the state could be helped. The money would be disbursed next week after distribution of the earlier Rs2,000 crore is completed on January 27.

Minister for finance Sudhir Mungantiwar informed media persons that the state government, without waiting for the Centre's approval of its package, has provided Rs4,805 crore to farmers in the state.

He informed that there are more than 19,000 villages in the first phase which would be provided the relief of cash through banks. More than 23,000 villages in the second phase will be benefitted, he added.

He said that without any panchanama, for the first time the state government has provided cash relief of at least Rs1,000 to every farmer however small is the land holding. This decision, he said, would cost the state an additional Rs300 crore which would not be paid back by the Centre.