Maharashtra farmers to get free soil, silt, gravel to restore farmland destroyed in monsoon floods

Additionally, those individuals whose houses were damaged during floods would also be eligible for royalty-free use of up to five brass of minor minerals for repairing their houses, cattle sheds, farms, and wells.

“The farmers affected by floods should get free soil, gravel, and silt to reconstruct their farmlands, badly affected due to soil erosion,” Bawankule said in the order.

Unprecedented floods and heavy rain between September and October in the drought-hit Marathwada region not only destroyed khariff standing crops but also led to massive soil erosion.

The circular issued by the Revenue Department stated, “Minister Bawankule has directed all district collectors to ensure full and accurate implementation of royalty exemptions on soil, gravel, silt, and such minerals for affected farmers.”

Last month, the state government sanctioned a Rs 31,628-crore package to the flood-hit farmers, of which a sizeable component was a compensation towards the khariff standing crop loss. All eligible farmers would receive the compensation amount, which is being directly credited into their bank accounts.

What govt did so far?

In the aftermath of heavy rain and subsequent floods that led to massive crop loss and soil erosion, the state government had directed banks not to insist on loan payments from farmers immediately. The state government also announced a Rs 31,628 crore compensation package for farmers. Of this, Rs 8,000 crore has been disbursed, and Rs 11,000 crore was released in the Cabinet meeting earlier this week.

The state government also set up a committee under retired IAS officer Pravin Pardeshi to study the feasibility of a complete loan waiver for farmers and make recommendations.

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