NAGPUR, June 9: Taking a serious note of a flood of complaints about irregularities in crop damage survey conducted by the lower-level staff, Agriculture Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil ordered a fresh survey and updating of the entire record.Patil made the announcement at Nagpur divisional level meeting of officials and people's representatives, held at Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Hall to review the agricultural operations for the ensuing kharif season. Due of the faulty survey, a large number of farmers affected by crop failure were deprived of the cash compensation declared by the government.Later, while addressing a press conference, he said the staff of revenue, agriculture and cooperation department would be asked to carry out a fresh survey and update the permanent record which is being maintained by the lowest-level staff of revenue department. The farmers who were deprived of the assistance, will be benefitted by the exercise, which is expected to be completed within a month.In addition to thefresh survey, the minister announced a series of decisions taken by the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government to help farmers in distress. These steps would help farmers to take up sowing operations in ensuing kharif season, he added.Among the major decisions are: launching of criminal prosecution against those indulging in profiteering, hoarding and blackmarketing of seeds and fertilisers, introduction of single-window system to ensure coordination between the agriculture, soil conservation and horticulture departments, holding district collectors responsible for disruptions in supply of farm inputs, directing the divisional level authorities of revenue and cooperation departments to hold fortnightly review meetings, implementation of a Rs 2.8 crore plan for strengthening of Vasantrao Naik Institute for Agricultural Management and action against the officials of District Central Coopertive Banks and Land Development Banks, who are found flouting the government directives. In reply to aquestion about recovery of crop loan, the minister said that the district central cooperative banks went ahead with forced recovery of loan flouting the State Government's directives. In certain cases, the seizure drives launched by banks to recover loan from farmers in distress, were aimed at defaming the alliance government, he charged.About `single-window system' in agriculture department, he said the government is firm on its stand to formally launch the scheme from July 1. A special programme will be conducted at Agricultural universities for training and orientation of the staff engaged in implementation of the single-window system. In reply to questions about the persistent demand for loan waiver, the minister said the State Government has already decided to convert short term cooperative loan into long term one and not to press for recovery of interest this year. In case of loan disbursed by nationalised banks, decision would be taken only after a meeting of bank officials with Chief MinisterManohar Joshi.Minister of State for Agriculture and Horticulture Harshwardhan Patil, Secretary, Agriculture, Umesh Sarangi, Secretary, Water Conservation, Kanade and agriculture commissioner Dr Goyal were present at press conference.
