Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's address during a function was marred by sloganeering by farmers here today, following which he wound up the speech and left the venue.
Some farmers even hurled soyabean plants towards the dais to register their protest against the government for its "apathy" towards their problems.
The Chief Minister was here to inaugurate the 4th Sinchan Parishad (irrigation convention) organised on the dam site in village Thalegaon of Babhulgaon tehsil in Yavatmal district.
After Chavan started his inaugural address, a group of farmers started shouting slogans. They demanded that he should speak on the local issues such as crop damage due to heavy rains, financial assistance to the flood-affected, special packages for the farmers, speedy completion of Bembla and Dehni Projects, rehabilitation, among other things.
Though the Chief Minister and others tried to pacify the farmers a few times, they continued to raise slogans, following which, he left the venue in a huff.
The police had a tough time in controlling the situation, which lasted for a few minutes. They later detained some farmers.
After leaving the place, Chavan visited the Dehni lift irrigation project site in the district, where he inspected the works and received the representations from farmers.
Earlier during the speech, Chavan said, "The government would give priority to finish the incomplete projects. Accordingly, funds in the form of special packages would be given for immediate completion and rehabilitation of the Bembla river irrigation project. A sum of Rs 1,200 crore has been granted for Gosikhurd project and the Bembla affected people would also be given adequate compensation."
"A special meeting would be held in Mumbai soon to settle the pending issues regarding Bembla Project. The Governor has been requested to grant permission to the projects with less than 600 hectares irrigation capacity," he said.
