Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday reviewed relief measures announced for farmers and families affected by the recent floods. A senior Mantralaya official, on condition of anonymity, said, “Fadnavis is personally monitoring the development pertaining to announced relief measures and distribution.”
According to Manatralaya officials, during the weekly cabinet meeting, Fadnavis checked the progress of the relief work, survey reports and other details. It was during this meeting that Fadnavis instructed officials to make sure that the financial help reaches those affected and their families before Diwali. Last week, the state cabinet had approved a Rs 31,628-crore relief package for flood-affected farmers and families. In fact, while announcing the package, Fadnavis and both his deputies — Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde — had made it amply clear that financial assistance to affected people should be disbursed before the Diwali festival.
Excessive rainfall this year (especially between the end of August and mid-September) led to widespread damage to crops, houses, and livestock in the Marathwada, Vidarbha, North Maharashtra, and Western Maharashtra regions. According to government records, 29 out of 36 districts and 253 talukas in the state suffered because of excessive rainfall. In fact, sowing had taken place over a total of 1.43 lakh hectares at the start of the monsoon. But due to heavy rainfall, over 68 lakh hectares of land were damaged.
