‘Extend loans to farmers’

Minister for Irrigation T. Harish Rao called upon the bankers to extend loans to farmers without fail.

Participating in a review meeting with bankers here on Friday, Mr. Harish Rao said that the bankers sanctioned only Rs.1,208.43 crore against a target of Rs. 1,652.92 crore for farmers during kharif season and the remaining need to be sanctioned immediately. Stating that Rs. 483.15 crore was credited to the banks as part of loan waiver for 3,96,191 farmers, the Minister said that the famers were facing trouble as there were no rains and banks should not collect interest from farmers.

Informing that the banks stopped collecting interest from farmers after August 14, he said that the interest collected earlier should be remitted to farmers accounts without any delay.

He also suggested the bankers not to collect insurance amount from farmers.

Collector Ronald Rose expressed displeasure over not grounding schemes despite release of subsidy amount and asked bankers to do so before October 27. 

Similarly, the Joint Director of Agriculture was directed to issue loan relief certificates to all eligible farmers.

MP K. Prabhakar Reddy, MLAs Ch. Prabhakar, S. Ramalinga Reddy, Ch. Madan Reddy, and MLC Ramulu Naik participated.

Earlier, in a review meeting with district officials, Mr. Harish Rao said that the work for construction of about 4,000 double bed-room houses would be commenced shortly.