MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has appointed a committee under additional chief secretary (Home) to probe deaths of farmers due to pesticide poisoning in Yeotmal district. “The inquiry will be conducted by the additional chief secretary (Home) Sudhir Shrivastava,” said a statement issued by the chief minister’s office here on Tuesday, while the state cabinet announced a compensation of `2 lakh to the families of farmers who have died due to poisoning.
“Also, it will be binding on pesticides companies now to provide free masks to avoid such incidents in future. If needed, the government too shall provide masks,” an officer from the chief minister’s office has said. The officer, however, did not specify the number of farmers who have died in the incident.
Meanwhile, the opposition has started raising voice over the issue and demanded the formation of a special investigation team to probe into the incident.