Lok Sabha Question No. 355 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Relief to Flood affected Farmers in Bihar
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Tariq Anwar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION. NO. 355

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH  MARCH, 2026

## RELIEF TO FLOOD AFFECTED FARMERS IN BIHAR

*355.   SHRI TARIQ ANWAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the agricultural land of thousands of farmers in the Katihar district of Bihar has been destroyed due to erosion and floods caused by the rivers Ganga and Kosi as a result of which the said farmers are in severe economic crisis;

(b) whether the disaster affected farmers are unable to repay the agricultural loans taken from various banks and proceedings like giving notices and attachment (Kurki) are being initiated against the said farmers; and

(c)  whether  the  Government  proposes to  implement  any  special  scheme  for  waiver  or restructuring  of  the  agricultural  loans  provided  to  such  farmers  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.355 REGARDING  'RELIEF  TO  FLOOD  AFFECTED FARMERS IN BIHAR' DUE FOR REPLY ON 17 TH  MARCH, 2026

(a): The State Government of Bihar has informed that the district of Katihar possesses a unique and complex hydro geographical profile. The district is bounded and intersected by the Ganga, Kosi and Mahananda Rivers. Due to its location, the banks of these rivers are subjected to flooding. In response to the flood damage during Kharif 2025-26 season, Bihar  Government  has  disbursed  a  total  of  Rs.4,97,57,686.00  for  2926.922  hectare  of damaged  area.    9758  farmers  were  provided  financial  assistance  under  Krishi  Input Subsidy scheme.

As per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the State Government is primarily responsible for providing necessary relief measures on ground level in the wake of notified calamities including floods. The State Governments undertake relief measures in the wake of natural calamities from funds available in the form of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) in accordance with the Government of India approved items and norms.  Additional  financial  assistance,  over  and  above  SDRF,  is  considered  from  the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure, in case of disaster of 'severe nature', which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) and a memorandum for assistance under NDRF submitted by the State/ UT Government.

The  State  Government  of  Bihar  is  allocated  an  amount  of  Rs.1836.00  crore (Rs.1376.80 crore Central share + Rs.459.20 crore State share) for the financial year 20252026 under SDRF, of which the first Instalment of Rs.688.40 crore, as Central share is released to the State.

(b): Recovery of bank loans is governed by applicable laws and regulatory guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Further, the provisions of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002 are not applicable to security interests created in agricultural land.

The  State  Government  of  Bihar  has  informed  that  no  incident  of  attachment  of agricultural land (kurki) against farmers in Katihar district in connection with agricultural loans has been received.

(c): No specific scheme for waiver of agricultural loans is under implementation by the Government of India.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its guidelines on relief measures by banks in areas affected by natural calamities, also provides:-

· In the event of natural calamities declared by the State/ Central Government, all Short-term loans, except those which are overdue at the time of occurrence of natural calamity, shall be eligible for restructuring;

· Fresh loans may also be sanctioned to affected borrowers;

· Agricultural  term loan  instalments shall also  be  rescheduled  keeping in view  the repaying capacity of the borrower and nature of natural calamity.

· The restructured  portion  of  short  term loans  as  well  as  long  term  loans  may  be treated as current dues and need not be classified as Non-Performing Assets (NPAs).