Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday met Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and sought a Rs 5,700 crore package for farmers in the state who suffered loss to crops due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm.During the meeting, Chouhan apprised Shinde that houses, livestock and infrastructure including roads, electrical transformers were also badly affected.

"I have urged the Home Minister to announce an economic package of Rs 5,723 crore for the relief and rehabilitation of those who were affected due to the unseasonal rains and hailstorm," he told reporters here after the meeting.

Chouhan said he has requested the central government to waive loans taken by the farmers and speedy clearance of all insurance claims.

The chief minister had earlier requested President Pranab Mukherjee to intervene in the matter and declare the situation a national calamity.

Almost all 51 districts in Madhya Pradesh have been affected by unseasonal rains and hailstorm. Excessive rainfall has badly affected the crops of gram, wheat, vegetables and horticulture.

In August, September and October 2013 also, the state witnessed massive floods due to excessive monsoon rains and this had an adverse affect on the soyabean crop.

Chouhan also requested to Decemberem the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for gram as Rs 3,100 per quintal.

Source - http://zeenews.india.com/