HYDERABAD: Opposition and ruling benches on Wednesday had a heated debate on banks collecting interest amounts on the crop loans waived by state government.KCR, who said he had information provided by bankers, said no banker collected interest on crop loans waived. “The payment of interest on crop loans by farmers is not a issue,” Rao said in State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday in a reply to a discussion on crop loan waiver.
If farmers paid interest on crop loans and if the amount was `200 crore to `400 crore, then the government will pay the amount, he said. However, Rao contended, “There is no question of farmers paying interest. The crop loan waiver is closed”. KCR further said that no member of the ruling party received any complaint from any farmer on paying interest to bankers on the loans waived by the state government.
However, TPCC president and Congress MLA N Uttam Kumar Reddy said it was surprising to hear from the CM that there was no interest burden on farmers. He suggested government to invite complaints from affected farmers and submit the lists to local RDOs. “Within seven to ten days, farmers will submit their complaints,” Uttam Kumar Reddy added.Rao welcomed the suggestion and wanted Uttam and other members to collect and submit the lists to the Speaker in next ten days.