Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Saturday declared a `1000-crore package for farmers affected by the unseasonal rains. The compensation package is three times the amount — the average being `330 crores — given as aid to farmers in the last six years in case of a natural calamity. The CM also declared that the electricity to farmers living in the calamity affected areas won’t be disconnected until the end of April 2010. However, despite the increase in the compensation package, the Opposition staged a walkout stating that it was inadequate.
While announcing the package, the CM said that global warming had caused changes in the seasons. Hence, instead of thinking only in terms of short-term relief measures and monetary packages, the need of the hour was to come up with some long-term, constructive and permanent solutions.
Mr Chavan added that this year the state had witnessed 1,299 ml rainfall as against the average of 999 ml. Further, the state also witnessed 153 ml receding monsoon rain as against the average of 98 ml rainfall during the months of October and November. “Farmers, who use traditional ways of farming, need to use scientific ways to deal with these sudden changes,” said the CM.
Mr Chavan also answered questions as to why there was a delay in filing a panchanama.