After heavy rains, landslides and cloudbursts wreaked havoc in the Marathwada region, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded an assistance package of Rs 10,000 crore from the Centre, news agency PTI reported. The disaster-hit region has reported crop damage and property destruction over the past few days.
The former Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) said that once the government disburses the compensation into the accounts of affected persons, the banks should not deduct loan instalments from the sum.
According to officials, eight people have died, while hundreds of houses and crops on more than 33,000 hectares have been damaged.
The state cabinet reviewed the situation in a meeting at Mumbai, with CM Devendra Fadnavis assuring that the government was working to provide relief to farmers and other affected people of the drought-prone region, PTI reported.
“The Centre should immediately announce an assistance package of Rs 10,000 crore for flood-hit Marathwada,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief stated.
“Time should not be wasted in procedures like panchanama (spot assessment of damage) and studying rules pertaining to ex-gratia.” he added.
When asked about Thackeray’s remarks on the government and “stepmotherly treatment” towards Marathwada, he asserted, “People don`t expect politics during such a crisis. We are doing all that is needed to help people and farmers.”
“It is laughable that Thackeray should say this. Some parties want to indulge in politics,” he added.
Speaking on reports of ‘wet drought’ situation in the region, CM Fadnavis said, “It is not a wet drought. We are following the rules and doing all necessary to bring assistance.”
Fadnavis also stated that compensation for house, cattle, and crop damages would be granted individually in accordance with standing orders.
Earlier on Tuesday, officials while asserting about the issue said that Eight persons have died and hundreds of houses and several roads have been damaged in the region since September 20.
Moreover, Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan on the Marathwada floods further stated that, “The situation is very grim, I do not have words to express the devastation the heavy rainfall has caused,” as cited by news agency PTI.
“This is a natural calamity. In the last 50, 60 or even 70 years, such rainfall has never been recorded in this region. The unprecedented downpour has washed away the fertile upper layer of soil. Several villages are surrounded by floodwaters, and people have lost cattle and other livestock in large numbers. Agriculture and people have suffered unprecedented damage,” the Minister added.
(With inputs from PTI)
