Maharashtra’s Marathwada Records 483 Farmer Suicides In Six Months Of 2023, Beed Tops List

According to a revenue department data covering the Aurangabad division, Beed district accounted for 128 of the 483 deaths, followed by Osmanabad at 90 and Nanded at 89.

A total of 483 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra's Marathwada area in the first six months of this year, with a peak of 92 fatalities in June, according to a state revenue department official on Monday, news agency PTI reported. He noted that the number of deaths has steadily increased, beginning with 62 in January, 74 in February, 78 in March, 89 in April, with a little decrease to 88 in May and 92 in June.

According to a revenue department data covering the Aurangabad division, Beed district accounted for 128 of the 483 deaths, followed by Osmanabad at 90 and Nanded at 89.

Beed had thirty of the 92 fatalities in June, followed by Nanded with 24.

"Of the 483 cases, 304 were found to be eligible for ex-gratia, 112 cases are under inquiry while 67 have been found ineligible. Only 10 families have so far got ex-gratia, which comprises cash aid of Rs 30,000 and Rs 70,000 kept as fixed deposit to be claimed in the future," the official was quoted by PTI in its report.

Beed is also the home district of state agricultural minister Dhananjay Munde, despite the fact that he was sworn in on July 2.

‘Irregularities’ In Civic Contracts: Mumbai Police’s SIT Registers Three PEs Regarding Work Orders Under Scanner

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) has opened three preliminary inquiries (PE) into suspected anomalies in the award of contracts worth Rs 12,024 crore given by the city civic body in the past, PTI reported.

He stated that the PEs are in connection with work orders issued between November 2019 and October 2022.

According to the official, the SIT has acquired certain critical documents and recorded testimonies from several people while examining the alleged anomalies detected by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in the award of civic contracts worth over Rs 12,000 crore.

According to the official, one of the three PEs is related to work orders worth more than Rs 200 crore that were reportedly granted without the use of bids by the Road Department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).