Fresh concessions to farmers announced

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 23. The Opposition on Monday withdrew its dharna in the Legislative Assembly on the issue of the plight of farmers after the Government came out with a second instalment of concessions which includes a halt to disconnection in power supply in the case of authorised irrigation pumpsets.

The announcement was made following an agreement reached between the Government and the Opposition. The concessions and the assurance to intensify the relief measures are in addition to the 15-point package announced on Friday. However, they fell short of the demand for the waiver of interest on loans taken by farmers from nationalised banks and cooperative institutions.

The Government made the announcement after talks with the Opposition leaders. The Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, took part in the talks. Earlier, when the Opposition resumed the dharna in the House, the Speaker, Mr. M. V. Venkatappa, adjourned the House to enable the talks.

The Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. D. B. Chandre Gowda, who made the announcement, said the Centre too had its responsibility in coming to the aid of the State. The Union Minister for Rural Development, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu (who has been elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka), and Central ministers from the State should have toured the drought-hit areas and pleaded for greater assistance to the State.

On the Opposition's charge that the Government had not released funds for the purchase of maize, Mr. Chandre Gowda said that, without waiting for Central funds, the Government had released Rs. 80 crores for the purchase. Of the Rs.170-crore assistance for the purchase announced by the Centre, Rs. 100 crores had been released. The Government owed the maize growers only Rs. 5.82 crores. Of the Rs. 100 crores demanded for improving the drinking water supply, Rs. 55 crores had been released and the balance would be released shortly.

Mr. Chandre Gowda said that the regularisation of unauthorised pumpsets in areas declared as ``grey'' and ``dark'' would be permitted. The KPTCL would come out with a plan in this regard. The Chief Minister had ordered that there should be no disconnection of power supply to authorised pumpsets for non- payment of arrears. About collection of arrears of power charges, Mr. Chandre Gowda noted that they could be cleared till August 14.

The minister refuted the Opposition claim that the recovery of cooperative loans was not of the order of 70 per cent as stated by the Government.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Jagadish Shettar, put the recovery percentage at 50. He said the Government had failed to waive interest on farm loans.

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Section  : Southern States
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