Yavatmal declared drought-hit area

YAVATMAL, MARCH 26: District Guardian Minister Gowardhan Sharma has declared Yavatmal district as drought-hit. Speaking at a press-conference at the Government Rest house on Wednesday the minister announced a number of welfare schemes for the rehabilitation of the farmers affected by unseasonal rains and hailstorm.

Sharma said postponement of collection of loan installments and energy meter bills and writing off of the agricultural land tax were some of the measures planned by the government to relieve the farmers of their hardship.

According to the minister, the farmers would be given financial assistance next year as well. Earlier, Sharma visited the villages affected by the rain and hailstorm and assessed the damages caused to the crop. He later submitted his report to Chief Minister Manohar Joshi who has given a green signal to declare the district as drought-hit. The minister announced various concessions to farmers and farm-labourers. The farmers are now free from the compulsory collection ofelectricity bills, loan installments and agricultural cess.