16 lakh farm loan waiver applicants kept on hold

Mumbai: The state government has put on hold the claims of 16 lakh farmers seeking benefits under its loan waiver scheme and sent a list of their details to banks, according to sources. The claims were put on hold because their loans were not taken between April 2009 and June 2016, the period during which loans are covered by the waiver. The government has also rejected the claims of seven lakh other farmers.

The government has cleared 41 lakh farmers for the scheme, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said in Nagpur on Sunday. The scheme may now cost up to Rs 24,000 to Rs 25,000 crore and not Rs 34,000 crore, as was expected at the time of the waiver’s declaration.

Mr Fadnavis had asked the IT and co-operation departments’ officials and banks to complete the process before the start of the Winter Session i.e. December 11. The government has now almost finished scrutinising work and declared a list of 41 lakh farmers that have been cleared.

The government has deposited more than Rs 19,000 crore with the banks and the process of transferring this money has been going on speedily. Banks were open to carry out this work on Saturday and Sunday.

Mr Fadnavis has discussed the issue of non-performing asset (NPA) loans with bankers and they are ready to share financial burden up to 40 per cent of 13,88 lakh farmers who are having NPAs of Rs 12,629 crore. So, it will reduce the burden of the state government by more than Rs 4,000 to 5,000 crore. The government has deposited Rs 4,700 crore with the banks for OTS farmers also. Farmers who have loans than are higher than Rs 1.5 lakh will have to settle remaining amount with the bank first and then avail of the scheme, sources said.

ISSUE IN NUMBERS

77.28 lakh number of online applications

7 lakh applications rejected

16 lakh loan applications on hold

Rs 25,000 crore loan waiver and incentive may cost

Rs 4,700 crore amount deposited for OTS farmers