Nabard loan interest

Patna: Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who holds the finance department portfolio, on Monday said the state government aims to take a Rs 2,100 crore loan from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) in the current fiscal. He was speaking at a state-level workshop in the Nabard regional office here.

Modi said Nabard loan was cheaper than the ones taken from the market. He said Rs 1,517 crore of the Rs 21,576 crore loan the state government took in 2016- was from NABARD at an interest rate of 4.75 per cent, whereas the government had to pay 7.38 per cent interest on Rs 17,700 crore loan taken from the market.

Agri boost

Patna: The agriculture department will set up agriculture implement banks for small and marginal farmers who cannot afford to buy those. These banks will provide agriculture implements to farmers at a nominal rent. Agriculture minister Prem Kumar said the aim was to promote mechanised farming in Bihar.

Flood visit

Patna: Leader of Opposition in the Bihar legislative Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, will visit flood affected districts on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tejashwi will go by road. Later, on Sunday, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi will hold a public meeting in Bhagalpur to 'expose' chief minister Nitish Kumar in the Srijan scam.

Green run

Patna: LIC Patna division officer-1 organised a run for environment in Patna on Monday, to mark insurance week. Patna divisional commissioner Anand Kishor was chief guest at the programme.

Teachers' day

Patna: District magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agarwal on Monday congratulated teachers on the eve of Teachers' Day and ordered all government schools to celebrate the occasion on Tuesday.

Flood help

Patna: Several politicians and people from other backgrounds on Monday donated money to the chief minster's relief fund at his 1 Aney Marg residence for the flood victims.