Maharashtra govt announces aid for fishermen hit by heavy rains

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday issued an order to provide financial assistance and concessions to fishermen whose livelihoods were affected by excessive rainfall and floods between June and September this year reported news agency PTIA special relief package has been approved for those whose boats fishing nets or fish stock were damaged due to heavy rains and flooding according to a resolution GR issued by the state fisheries department reported PTIUnder the package affected fishermen will receive compensation of Rs 6000 for partially damaged boats and Rs 15000 for completely destroyed ones For the fully and partially damaged fishing nets they will get Rs 4000 and Rs 3000 respectively reported PTIFarmers will receive Rs 10000 per hectare for loss of fish seed and Rs 60 per kilogram for loss of fish stock up to 50 per cent of expected productionThe government has also directed district officials to conduct onground inspections and submit proposals through the assistant commissioner of fisheries for approval The relief amount will be directly credited to beneficiaries bank accounts via the Direct Benefit Transfer DBT system reported PTIThe GR said the districtlevel committees must verify damage reports with the participation of local authorities including talathis revenue officials sarpanches and representatives of fisheries cooperative societies reported PTIThe fisheries commissioner has been tasked with reviewing the disbursement process and submitting regular reports to the governmentMaharashtra finalises policy to promote use of artificial sand in constructionMeanwhile the Maharashtra government has finalised a policy promoting the use of artificial sand for construction activities and issued an official order to this effect Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Tuesday reported PTIIn a letter to all district collectors Bawankule directed the immediate implementation of the policyThe government has delegated powers to approve the artificial sand or MSand manufactured sand units to district collectors who can now sanction up to 100 such units an increase from the earlier cap of 50 reported PTIAs per the new resolution issued by the revenue department information on suitable land for MSand units both on public and private properties will be compiled and made available on the Mahakhanij portal for auction A registered undertaking will be required for setting up these units the minister said reported PTIBawankule further stated that licences of MSand units violating prescribed conditions will be permanently cancelledWith the standard operating procedure now in place there will be no obstacles in implementing the policy he said reported PTIThe minister had earlier said that providing an alternative to natural sand was crucial for environmental protectionEfforts are underway to completely stop sand mining from rivers in the future Ensuring sand availability for construction and simultaneously curbing illegal transportation are key to safeguarding the environment he had said reported PTIWith inputs from PTI