Mumbai: The Opposition in Maharashtra
Legislative Assembly on Wednesday staged a walkout to protest against
the alleged discrimination by the state government against
banana growers in the Khandesh region.
Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse charged that the
government was deliberately neglecting the demands of banana
growers and not providing financial assistance as it does to
sugarcane and cotton growers.
"To protest against such negligence and injustice towards
North Maharashtra (Khandesh), the Opposition is staging a
walkout," Khadse said while leading the opposition members out
of the House.
The issue came up during the Question Hour and Relief and
Rehabilitation Minister Patangrao Kadam who said that banana
plantations spread over 910.04 hectare were damaged in Jalgaon
district due to the unseasonal rains last month.
While in Nandurbar District, 125.31 hectare banana crop
was lost. As many as five persons died when lightening struck
them in these two districts, Kadam informed the House.
The minister said the government will take a decision on
compensation package to banana growers before the end of the
monsoon session.
However, Opposition members were not satisfied with the
reply. Khadse said, the government had done nothing for the
last six years and the banana growers had suffered crop losses
to the tune of Rs 250 crore on account of unseasonal rains.
PTI
