In a written reply during Question Hour, Makrand Patil said 250 farmer suicides were reported in March in Marathwada and Vidarbha, while 229 suicides were reported statewide in April
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A total of 479 farmer suicides were reported in Maharashtra in March and April this year, state relief and rehabilitation minister Makrand Patil said in the assembly on Friday, reported news agency PTI.
In a written reply during Question Hour, he said 250 farmer suicides were reported in March in Marathwada and Vidarbha, while 229 suicides were reported statewide in April, reported PTI.
Of the 250 cases in March, 102 were found to be eligible for financial aid as per government rules, with amounts being disbursed in 77 cases.
A total of 62 were found to be ineligible, while inquiries are pending in 86 cases, Patil added.
"In April, 229 farmers committed suicide. Of these, 74 were found to be eligible for aid. Funds were released in 33 of these 74 cases," the minister informed the House, reported PTI.
As per a government resolution (GR) of January 24, 2006, farmer suicides due to crop failure, inability to repay loan from nationalized and cooperative banks or licensed money lenders, burgeoning debt etc are considered eligible for financial aid. The kin of such farmers are given Rs 1 lakh.
A hike in the financial aid is not under consideration, the minister said.
Maharashtra govt promises action to protect mangroves; 'positive about carbon credits'
Meanwhile, action will be taken to stop the destruction of mangrove forests in Maharashtra, and the government is mulling giving carbon credits for the protection of mangroves on private land, it said on Friday, reported PTI.
The issue of threats to mangrove forests along the coast was raised in the legislative assembly by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav, reported PTI.
A survey is underway from the Gujarat border to Goa and it will provide information about the exact area under mangroves, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik said during the Question Hour.
"Instructions have been given to install CCTV cameras for the protection of mangrove forests in Palghar district. Officials of the Forest, Revenue and Home departments have been instructed to patrol these areas by turns. If (construction) debris from Mumbai is found being dumped in mangrove forests, legal action will be taken," Naik said, reported PTI.
For the protection of mangroves on private land, the Government is positive about giving carbon credits to the owners, said environment minister Pankaja Munde, reported PTI.
Replying to a question by BJP MLA Sneha Dubey about encroachment on mangroves forests in Palghar district, she assured that strict legal action will be taken, adding that offences have already been registered in 19 cases.
(With inputs from PTI)
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