Date:13/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/13/stories/2008071359470600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Loan waiver certificates by July 20: Raghuveera

Special Correspondent

N. Raghuveera Reddy

HYDERABAD: Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy on Saturday directed officials to ensure that all farmers covered under the Central government’s loan-waiver scheme received waiver certificates by July 20.

Talking to presspersons after a teleconference with Agriculture, State Co-operative Bank, Vigilance and Enforcement and NABARD officials, he said loan-waiver melas in 430 mandals were attended by 15 lakh farmers. Of them 10.86 lakh farmers were given certificates.

Seek more time

While cooperative banks had completed the process, commercial banks sought additional time to do their bit.

He wanted the list of 22 lakh non-loanee farmers not covered under the Rs. 72,000 crore Central government package but for whom the State government announced Rs. 5,000 each as an incentive for prompt repayment, to be prepared by July 20. The cheques would be distributed at mandal headquarters in August, he added. The government also approved the suggestion of the Vigilance and Enforcement department to announce rewards for those informing about hoarding and diversion of fertilizers.

Director-General, Vigilance and Enforcement, S.K. Jayachandra said cases would be booked against main dealers and traders under Preventive Detention Act as fertilizers, like rice, were also essential commodities.

So far, fertilizers worth Rs. 45 lakh were seized, of which chemical fertilizers worth Rs. 35 lakh were seized in Kurnool alone.

People can contact phone numbers furnished in the website www.vigics.co.nr to give information, he said.