Will declare relief package for farmers in this session: Govt

The state government on Wednesday said it will be declaring its relief package for farmers in the budget session itself. Replying to the over 10-hour discussion on the issue, revenue minister Eknath Khadse said the government is taking stock of loss and will declare the package.

"We will declare it before the session ends," said Khadse.

Opposition leader in the lower house Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said, "The government should announce a relief of Rs25,000 per hectare, as mentioned by Jayant Patil."

Khadse had earlier said his government has already released Rs4,000 crore without any aid from the Centre. "We have to make allocation in the budget for the money that was not given in your tenure. That apart, we are giving the best price for cotton," added Khadse.

The leader quipped that if the relief package falls short, a year's worth of salaries of all MLAs could be taken. The opposition, however, walked out in protest after no amount was announced.