Shimla, Jan 11(Reporter) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday directed the Himachal Pradesh state Cooperative bank to formulate One Time Settlement (OTS) policy to help thousands of apple growers and farmers to settle their outstanding dues. At a meeting held here the Chief Minister directed bank Chairman Devender Shyam and Managing Director Shravan Manta, to work together with NABARD and the Reserve Bank of India for developing a comprehensive OTS policy. He said the initiative would provide substantial succour to thousands of farmers, horticulturists and other borrowers associated with the Bank. The Chief Minister said the OTS policy would offer an opportunity to the borrowers to settle their outstanding dues at a discounted rate, thereby avoiding legal actions and improving their credit score after successful settlement. The Bank would also be benefitted as it would improve overall financial health of the bank by facilitating in recovering Non Performing Assets and reducing long pending debts, he added. Sukhu said instructions would be issued to Kangra Central Cooperative Bank and Jogindra Central Cooperative Bank to formulate OTS policy in the interest of their consumers. According to RBI guidelines the state cooperative Bank could allow to have permissible limit of NPA upto 3.50 per cent of their total deposit however some Cooperative Banks are exceeding the thresholds limit...////...