Govt releases Rs 118.54 cr aid to farmers affected by floods, rains in July last year

Staff Reporter :

Revenue and Forest Department of State Government has released aid of Rs 118.54 crore for farmers in Nagpur Division who suffered crop loss of 33 per cent or more due to floods and heavy rainfall in July 2019. Floods and heavy rainfall on July 26 and later on last year, had wreaked havoc in various parts of Maharashtra. Nagpur Division was the worst-hit followed by Nashik, Konkan, and Aurangabad divisions. Cabinet Sub-Committee chaired by Chief Minister had taken a decision on August 19, 2019, to release aid to the affected farmers.

Accordingly, Government Resolutions (GRs) were issued on August 29, 2019 and September 11, 2019. As per the said GRs, farmers who had not taken any loan but floods/heavy rainfall had damaged 33 per cent or more of the crop in their farms, were eligible for aid for a maximum one hectare area. The aid to be given was triple the aid due for a particular crop/area as per the guidelines. After completing formalities, Divisional Commissioners of Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nashik, and Konkan had sought aid from the Government. Now, Revenue and Forest Department has released an amount of Rs 307.33 crore.

This amount includes Rs 102,44,35,000/- as per State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) guidelines, and Rs 204,88,65,000/- as additional aid to be provided by State Government. The total amount of aid will be distributed in two instalments of Rs 153,66,50,000/- each in September and October. The division-wise break-up of aid being provided by the Government is as follows: Nagpur -- Rs 118,54,20,000/-, Nashik -- Rs 114,69,57,000/-, Konkan -- Rs 6,47,00,000/-, and Aurangabad -- Rs 67,62,23,000. In Nagpur Division, Nagpur district will get the highest Rs 42,97,27,000/- followed by Gadchiroli with an aid of Rs 39,97,12,000/-. Since Wardha suffered the least damage in Nagpur Division, it will get an aid of Rs 2,32,49,000/-.

If one compares the aid to be given to 18 districts in all four affected divisions in State, Latur district will get the least aid of Rs 8,000/-, and Nagpur will get the highest aid. The aid will be provided only to farmers who suffered loss of 33 per cent or more of their multi-year horticulture crop. The aid will be distributed as per the reports submitted by District Collectors concerned. The reports should be signed jointly by Agriculture Assistant, Talathi, and Gram Sevak for respective area. The aid will be deposited directly in the bank account of the beneficiary farmer. The banks have been asked not to effect any deductions against recovery due from that amount. Besides, the farmers who got aid against loss suffered due to untimely rains in October-November 2019, will not get benefit of this.