Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray (File photo)

PUNE: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday assured a complete farm loan waiver in the state, and also announced formation of an experts’ committee on the sugar industry.

His announcement of full loan waiver came only a day after the Shiv Sena-led government formally announced a farm loan waiver upto Rs two lakh. The CM, speaking at the annual general meeting of the Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) here, also announced that a branch of the research institute will be set up in the Marathwada region.

NCP president Sharad Pawar, chairman of the VSI, was present on this occasion.

“We have waived loans upto Rs 2 lakh as immediate relief to cultivators. But we will also make sure that their entire (crop) loan is waived,” Thackeray said.

On Tuesday, the state cabinet approved a loan waiver scheme under which short-term crop loans up to Rs 2 lakh, taken between April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2019, will be written off. Short-term restructured crop loan arrears up to September 30, 2019, will also be waived.

Thackeray hailed the role the VSI has played in the sugar sector. Modern technology reached farmers through the institute and that was why the sugar industry in Maharashtra was number one in the country, he said.

