The Congress party on Tuesday urged the Maharashtra government to immediately declare a “wet drought” in light of the recent torrential rains and widespread crop destruction, demanding compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare for affected farmers, news agency PTI reported.
State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal criticised the government for delaying relief by insisting on surveys and assessments.
“Don’t waste time. Provide immediate help to farmers who are in deep distress,” he said, adding that Congress leaders will visit the affected areas to interact with farmers and assess damages on their own.
Heavy rainfall over the past four days has severely impacted the Marathwada region, leading to eight deaths, hundreds of damaged homes, and submerged farmlands. Sapkal claimed that 30 of Maharashtra’s 36 districts and 300 of 358 talukas have been affected, with nearly 14.3 million hectares of farmland damaged, PTI reported.
Accusing the ruling Mahayuti government of apathy, Sapkal said even guardian ministers have not visited the flood-hit areas.
“Cabinet meetings are filled with empty talk. Farmers are suffering, but there’s no real action,” he alleged.
Sapkal demanded an immediate financial aid of Rs 50,000 per hectare for crop loss and Rs 5 lakh per hectare for land washed away by floods, reported PTI. He also questioned the delay in delivering the loan waivers promised during the elections.
“Why wait for panchanamas? Help now, complete formalities later,” he said, responding to Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s claim that damage assessments in Marathwada would be fast-tracked. Sapkal contrasted this with previous Congress governments, saying they had acted swiftly during natural disasters without bureaucratic delays.
Marathwada has not seen such heavy rainfall in 50-60 years: Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan
The Marathwada region of Maharashtra has not witnessed such intense rainfall in more than 50 years as it has experienced over the past few days, state Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan said on Tuesday.
Eight people have died and hundreds of houses and several roads have been damaged in the region since September 20, officials said earlier in the day.
“The situation is very grim, I do not have words to express the devastation the heavy rainfall has caused,” Mahajan told reporters in flood-affected Dharashiv district.
“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,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
