Revenue Minister Bawankule inspects Malkapur fields by torchlight, hears farmers' complaints
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule heard farmers' problems at Randham shivar in Malkapur, where crops were viewed by torchlight after his visit began two hours late.
State Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule reached Randham shivar in Malkapur on Saturday night and heard farmers' problems. His scheduled visit began about two hours late. It was already dark, so the crops in farmer Tulsiram Kandelkar's field were inspected by the light of a battery torch.
Co-Guardian Minister Sanjay Savkare, MLA Chainsukh Sancheti, district bank director Shivchandra Tayde and market committee chairman Sanjay Kajale were present. BJP leaders Mohan Sharma, Bhagwan Patil, Dnyandev Waghode and Milind Dawale came along with officials of various departments. Local resident Jaideep Patil briefed the minister on the farmers' condition.
The farmers raised several issues, including problems with power supply, crop insurance payouts, Gharkul subsidy and hurdles from banks in getting loans. During the inspection, they said power supply was repeatedly interrupted. They also said theft of electric wires from the fields was adding to their difficulties. According to the farmers, erratic power supply is affecting farm work.
After hearing the farmers, Bawankule directed the administrative machinery concerned to take the necessary action. Officials and staff from several departments, including revenue, Mahavitaran, agriculture and land records, were present. Demands were also made for immediate action on the farmers' questions.
Meanwhile, distress among farmers has also been reported from Karanja. Farmers whose crops were damaged by a long dry spell in the rains are demanding that panchnamas be carried out immediately and that aid be given according to the actual loss. In Bambardi Geet, animals had to be let loose into 4 acres of soybean in Dnyaneshwar Ki's field. It was said that this was not the pain of one farmer alone but a vivid example of the crisis the rain gap has brought on the kharif season. The soybean the farmer raised with his sweat is now being grazed by animals. The situation is serious, and the government was said to need to give it immediate attention.
