CM’s farm debt waiver event postponed, again

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 22

In view of the rain forecast, the state-level farm debt-waiver function has been postponed till further announcement. The function was scheduled for Wednesday, January 23, at Mehraj village in the district.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner Praneet said the state-level farmer’s debt relief function, to be held at Mehraj village on January 23, had been postponed in view of the poor weather condition prevailing in the region. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was to preside over the function for which preparations had been started by the district administration.

The DC said as per the reports, moderate rainfall and high-speed winds would continue to lash the region for the next few days. Keeping the forecast in view, the programme had been postponed till further orders. The date for the function would be announced in the coming few days or so.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had to launch the second round of the scheme, wherein Rs 71.34 crore debt of 11,328 farmers of the district was to be waived off.

Earlier, the function was scheduled for January 22 (Tuesday), but due to the prediction of rain by the MeT Department, it had been postponed for one day.

Maluka flays cancellation

SAD leader Gurpreet Singh Maluka lashed out at the state government over the cancellation of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s loan waiver function scheduled to be held at Mehraj village on Wednesday. Also the state director of Co-operative Bank, Maluka said the cancellation had led to a loss of Rs 11 lakh to the Co-operative Bank as 11,000 breakfast plates and mineral water bottles had been ordered for the function. The bank would now have to organise a langar at the venue. He also flayed the government for wasting public money. For the past five days, the district administration was on toes to prepare for the event and a bullet and water-proof stage was erected at the venue. Around 2,500 police personnel were deployed at the programme site for the past few days, he added.