Farmer Deaths: CM to Lead All-party Delegation to PM

Siddaramaiah said the government will consider the  plea made by farmers to waive their loans. This comes after the state received below normal rainfall this monsoon. 
Farmer Deaths: CM to Lead All-party Delegation to PM

HUBBALLI: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday the government will consider the  plea made by farmers to waive their loans. This comes after the state received below normal rainfall this monsoon. 

He stated this to reporters  as he arrived at the Hubballi airport, on way to Dharwad and Gadag districts, to meet the family of farmers who have committed suicide.  

Siddaramaiah also said that  he will lead an all-party delegation to the Centre and raise the issue of farmer suicides in the state and a possible compensation package. He said the delegation will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi before August 10. An appointment has already been sought and the PM is likely to fix the meeting before August 10, he said. Siddaramaiah said the government has directed banks and financial institutions not to press for recovery of loans availed by farmers. They have also been asked not to issue notices to farmers for now, he said. 

The CM said the government has started helplines to advise farmers in distress besides organising awareness programmes through media to instill confidence among them.

Siddaramaiah said that the delegation will also raise the Mahadayi river water dispute between Karnataka and Goa with Modi.

He also met farmers from Nargund who have been agitating for 20 days over sharing of Mahadayi water. The farmers came all the way from Nargund and staged a dharna on the airport premises.

Siddaramaiah further said that the state government is not in a hurry to declare the list of drought-hit taluks.  He said he was contemplating to seek the Centre’s help for relief.

The CM said a final decision on this will be taken after assessment of crop and rain pattern in the state.

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