Write off crop loans, says BJP

CHENNAI: Crop loans availed of by the farmers in the Thane affected areas should be waived, said M N  Sugumaran Nambiar, executive committee member, BJP, here on Wednesday.He told reporters the relief measures undertaken by the Tamil Nadu government were encouraging.He said the State should enhance the compensation to `20,000 per acre for short-term crops, `3,000 per coconut tree, and `60,000 per acre of plantain farms.“Not just the relief measures, but concerted efforts should be taken up by the government so as to uplift the standard of agriculture in the affected pockets. Only that can reinstate the agriculture there,” he said. “The BJP will exert pressure on the Centre to allot funds for the relief measures in TN.” On Mullaperiyar, Nambiar said the political parties in Kerala were united on the issue while some were adding fuel to the ongoing protests in border areas.