Drought declared in 12 of 15 Chandrapur talukas; loan recovery put on hold, power bill relief ordered

Drought has been declared in 12 of the 15 talukas of Chandrapur district. To speed up relief work, Collector Vasumana Pant held a review meeting of various departments on Monday. She directed all agencies concerned to work in coordination so that residents, farmers and livestock in drought-hit areas get the help they need on time. Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Pulkit Singh was present at the meeting.

The state government has decided to implement 12 kinds of measures and concessions for drought-affected areas as a special case. Collector Pant directed that they be implemented properly. Officials were asked to submit immediately details of the concession that would have to be given in each taluka if land revenue is to be waived.

Restructuring of crop loans was also discussed. The lead bank manager of the district was directed to provide immediately the number of farmers who have been given loans so far, how much loan waiver has been granted and how many farmers' loans will need to be restructured. Officials were also asked to ensure that bank officers attend the gram sabhas to be held on October 2 to give information on loan restructuring.

Banks are to be given written orders to suspend recovery of agriculture-related loans. The Collector also directed that action be taken against any bank against which complaints are received of loan recovery from drought-hit farmers.

The 12 measures for drought-affected areas include exemption in land revenue, restructuring of crop loans, suspension of recovery of agriculture-related loans, waiver of current electricity bills for agricultural pumps, waiver of examination fees for school and college students, relaxation of norms for Employment Guarantee Scheme works, tankers for drinking water as needed, no disconnection of power connections to farm pumps, arrangements for foodgrain for farmers and farm labourers, fodder for livestock, starting water conservation works, and planning of water for residents and livestock.

Officials were directed to start at least one work under the Employment Guarantee Scheme in every gram panchayat of the drought-hit talukas. MSEDCL (Mahavitaran) was told to make the necessary arrangements to give relief on current electricity bills for agricultural pumps. Departments were also directed to take up proposed works from the District Planning Committee's funds for drought relief, and to inform residents of those works at the October 2 gram sabhas.

Collector Pant also said that at the sub-divisional officer and tehsildar levels, meetings of all departments concerned should be held to review drought relief measures regularly.

Resident Deputy Collector Dagdu Kumbhar, District Superintending Agriculture Officer Shankar Totawar, Deputy Collector (Employment Guarantee Scheme) Shubham Dandekar, Divisional Forest Officer Rajan Talmale, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Girish Dhaygude, Deputy Commissioner of Animal Husbandry Dr Suresh Kumre, Ashish Sonone, District Supply Officer Rahul Bahadurkar and other officials were present at the meeting.