The BJP-led state government decided in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that compensation to farmers affected by hailstorm and unseasonal rains will be given before January 26.

The recompense is applicable to all land-holding farmers. Those owning big plots will get a compensation for one hectare of affected land only: farmers with non-irrigated land will get Rs4,500, those with irrigated land will get Rs9,000, and Rs12,000 for orchard farmers. Those affected who own less than one hectare will get Rs1,000.

Sunil Tatkare, state NCP president, told dna that the government had declared the compensation per hectare in the winter session in Nagpur. It was as follows: Rs5,000 for non-irrigated land, Rs10,000 for irrigated land, and Rs15,000 for orchards.

The state government had already disbursed Rs2,000 crore to regional commissioners: Rs386.62 crore for Nashik division, Rs7.50 crore for Pune, Rs845.55 crore for Aurangabad, Rs500.93 crore for Amaravati, and Rs259.40 crore for Nagpur division.

"The regional commissioners have disbursed this money to the respective tehsil in-charge, and by January 26, the compensation will be directly deposited in the bank account of the farmers," chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said. He added that bank accounts will be opened for farmers who do not have any under the Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana. "Money will be deposited in their accounts soon," Fadnavis said. Farmers can withdraw this deposit as per their requirement.

In December, most of the crops, including of grape, mango, banana etc, were badly hit by untimely rain and hailstorm in the 20 districts of the state.

The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party had criticised the government for delaying aid to the farmers and even threatened agitation if it wasn't handed out soon.

Source - http://www.freshplaza.com