Maharashtra government has got a nod from the Election Commission of India to announce the relief package for the hailstorm-hit farmers. Following the order Chief Secretary Mr. J S Saharia announced the relief package at a press briefing yesterday. The chief secretary said 260 crore rupees is being released as first installment.

He added that all the district collectors have been asked to immediately deposit the compensation amounts in the bank accounts of the farmers. The assessment so far has revealed that crops on more than 20 lakh hectares have been destroyed due to the hailstorms.

Our Mumbai correspondent reports that following the nod from the Election Commission of India, Chief Secretary Mr. J S Saharia announced the relief package for the hailstorm-hit farmers at a press briefing in Mumbai yesterday. The compensation for crops on non-irrigated land and irrigated lands would be 10,000 and 15,000 rupees a hectare, while the compensation for the horticultural cultivation would be 25,000 rupees a hectare.

There would be a waiver of 268 crore rupees towards interest on crop loans and electricity bills of 200 crore rupees. Mr. Saharia said that the compensation of 1 lakh rupees will be given to the relatives of the farmers who committed suicide, while it would be 1.5 lakh rupees for the kin of those who died in hailstorm-related mishaps. Twenty-eight deaths and 32 suicides of farmers were recorded in the last few weeks.