VALPOI
Unhappy over the delay in receiving compensation for losses to their crops in the July floods, a number of farmers have threatened to stage an agitation if they do not receive compensation before Diwali.
Addressing a news conference in Valpoi, the farmers led by Ranjit Rane said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Chandrakant (Babu) Kavalekar had promised compensation to farmers before Ganesh Chaturthi.
“However, their promises have not been fulfilled at yet. The floods in July had destroyed our crops and the losses are estimated at Rs 50 lakh. In fact, Sattari taluka has been getting flooded on a regular basis since the last three years,” said Rane.
“The affected farmers did not receive compensation and as a result, struggled to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. We now wonder if the State government's strategy is not to cooperate with farmers in Sattari.”
“Due to this flawed agricultural policy, the affected farmers will be forced to protest on the streets if they do not receive compensation into their accounts before Diwali. The aggrieved farmers and their families will protest outside the deputy collector's office in Sattari taluka,” warned Rane.
Other farmers present at the news conference included Dattaram More, Ganesh Paryekar, Rohini Gaonkar and Shweta More.
