Chief Minister meets Prime Minister, demands Rs. 575 crore for compensation against loss to soyabean

Bhopal: Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in Delhi today. The Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to make available Rs. 575.19 crore central grant for compensation against loss to soybean and other crops in the excessive rains during monsoon.

Shri Chouhan informed the Prime Minister that 28 districts of the state have been affected by excessive rains during monsoon. Affected farmers’ over 50 percent crops suffered damage and about 2.50 lakh small and marginal farmers were affected. Shri Chouhan informed the Prime Minister that after crop loss assessment, National Disaster Response Fund has been apprised of crop losses to the tune of Rs. 582 crore. Of this Rs. 575 crore 19 lakh is desired from the Union Government. Taking a serious note of Chief Minister Shri Chouhan’s appeal, the Prime Minister assured of necessary action at the earliest.

Invitation to inaugurate country’s biggest solar plant: During the meeting, Shri Chouhan apprised the Prime Minister about completion of country’s biggest solar plant at Neemuch, which has 130 MW capacity and invited him to inaugurate it. It is noteworthy that this solar plant, established in 900 acres, is the biggest in the country and third biggest in the world. Giving consent to inaugurate the plant, Dr. Manmohan Singh said that date will be intimated later. The Chief Minister met the Prime Minister at 6.30 pm. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Secretary Shri Hari Ranjan Rao.