Maharashtra may enact law to return 'illegally' mortgaged land

The Maharashtra government is considering a law that will return to farmers the land mortgaged to illegal moneylenders, according to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Replying to the motion of thanks on the governor's address in the Assembly, Deshmukh said a mere waiver of loans won't help check suicides by farmers.

"Loans from illegal money lenders and the coercive tactics they use to recover loans is a major concern in rural areas and to address this issue, the law and judiciary ministry has been asked to explore the possibility of bringing a law enabling the state government to give back to the farmers the land that has been grabbed by loan sharks," he said.

The state government is of the opinion that to give relief to farmers from Vidarbha and Marathwada, where land holdings are bigger, the limit of five acres for availing the farm loan waiver should be increased to15 acres, according to Deshmukh.

"We have already written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on this issue. The state government has been assured by the central government that they will consider our suggestions before giving final shape to the loan waiver scheme", he said.