Maharashtra govt sanctions Rs 3,500 crore flood relief for affected farmers

MUMBAI: The state government sanctioned around Rs3,501 crore and handed over the amount to district administrations as relief for farmers affected by floods between June and August across the state this year.
The state's relief & rehabilitation department issued a government resolution after a decision on increased aid was taken by the state cabinet. Chief minister Eknath Shinde had promised more help to victims of heavy rain.
Officials said the amount was approved from the state Disaster Response Fund and state government funds to districts. Officials said increased compensation of Rs13,600 per hectare for non-irrigated crops, Rs27,000 per hectare for irrigated crops and Rs36,000 per hectare for perennial crops up to a limit of three hectares will be given.
Last month, after heavy rain and floods in June, July and August damage to agricultural crops and agricultural land, Shinde said additional assistance will be given to affected farmers. In the first meeting of the 18 cabinet ministers in the Shinde-Fadnavis government, Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced that it will pay double the compensation offered by the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to farmers affected by floods.