Prithviraj Chavan assures maximum compensation to hailstorm-affected farmers

A day after some farmers committed suicide due to loss of crop because of the hailstorm and untimely rains, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the state had requested the Centre to declare the hailstorm a national calamity. He also assured maximum compensation to the affected farmers.

"Every day, hailstorm and untimely rain-affected area has been rising. The magnitude of devastation is serious. It has totally devastated our farmers. As many as 28 districts out of 35 are severely affected by the hailstorm," said Chavan.

Due to the hailstorm, more than 25 farmers have committed suicide over the last few days. On Tuesday, four farmers from Marathwada and two from North Maharashtra committed suicide. Chavan had appealed to farmers not to take any untoward step.

"We will stand by the farmers and maximum support and compensation will be given to them. This time, I am assuring, the amount of compensation will be more than the last time. Due to the election code of conduct, we were not able to take a speedy decision earlier," said Chavan, adding that he met the chief election commissioner and presented the plight of farmers and the adverse situation in state.

Chavan has toured five of the total affected districts. He said prime minister Manmohan Singh had constituted a high-level committee to study the situation and recommend a compensation package. The committee is headed by Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, while Union finance minister P Chidambaram, Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia are its members.

"The committee had come to Maharashtra on a two-day tour. It has submitted its report. We, too, have submitted our report and demand. We have asked the Centre to give Rs5,000 crore as compensation package. However, the amount is not sufficient in view of the losses incurred by farmers," said Chavan, adding that the compensation package will be declared in the next two days.

The state plans to give Rs10,000 per hectare for rabi crops, Rs15,000 per hectare for irrigated land, as against the present Rs9,000, and Rs30,000 per hectare for fruit farms, as against the current Rs15,000.

Chavan said giving compensation is a political decision. "The chief secretary will take a decision on this issue. This being a political issue, we will decide and make an announcement only after that. I can't say much because of the enforcement of the election code of conduct," he added.