AS MARATHWADA battles an “unprecedented” flood situation, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has asked the state government to ensure quick relief to the affected villagers while the Fadnavis government said it was making all efforts to provide assistance to all the affected villages. However, one of his ministers came under fire from aggrieved villagers after he purportedly told them that “he had not come to them with money”.
During his tour of the flood-affected Dharashiv district on Tuesday, the cavalcade of Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan was stopped by villagers at Chinchpur village in Bhoom taluka where hundreds of livestock have been washed away in the surging floodwaters besides damaging standing crop and displacing the villagers.
As soon as they spotted the minister’s car, the villagers blocked its way. They complained to him about their plight and how no assistance has reached them. In response, the minister purportedly said, “I will tell the administration to help you out. I have not come here with money.” As commotion prevailed, the minister instead of going to other villages headed for Barshi in neighbouring district.
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Later, speaking to reporters, the minister said, “This issue relates to the state cabinet. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and two deputy chief ministers will decide about it. The rain that Marathwada witnessed is unprecedented. We have never witnessed anything like this before. The damage is huge. Crop has been lost, livestock washed away, people have been displaced… I am in touch with the chief minister for past two-three days. I have discussed everything with the chief minister. We will take decisions as per the situation prevailing in a particular area. We are firmly with the affected farmers and villagers.. The government will take decision regarding declaration of ‘wet drought’. Yesterday I was in Beed and Jalgaon. Today I am in Dharashiv. And I would be heading for Solapur,” he said.
As it emerged the situation has worsened in several districts, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday cancelled all his engagements in Pune district and said he would go to the Marathwada area of the state, which has been severely affected by rain and floods.
Pawar said his Jan Sanvad programme, scheduled for September 24 in Khadakwasla, and the Rashtravadi Parivar Milan programme on September 25 have been deferred. “Due to the heavy rain in many districts of Maharashtra, farmers and citizens have suffered extensive damage. In some places, this flood situation has led to the tragic loss of lives. At the same time, there has been significant damage to numerous homes, household items, and livestock,” he said.
“I will visit the flood-affected areas. Additionally, I have issued instructions to all guardian ministers of the NCP to visit the farmers’ settlements and villages in the districts assigned to them. And MLAs should do the same in their constituencies, to provide immediate relief and assistance to the affected citizens; furthermore, the administration should promptly begin conducting panchnamas,” he added.
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Opposition parties, including the NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), lashed out at the government, accusing it of not paying attention to Marathwada.
Speaking to reporters in Pune, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar urged the state government to conduct an early “panchanama” of the crop loss. “The government should take immediate steps to assist the farmers. Besides Marathwada, Western Maharashtra and Vidarbha have also been hit by floods. Crops on several acres of land have been damaged. The farmers have suffered huge losses due to the excess rainfall,” he said.
“Maharashtra has witnessed unprecedented rain. It has affected farmers and livestock. Those districts known for drought have experienced excess rain. The soybean crop, on which farmers rely heavily, has also suffered significant damage, putting them in trouble. I don’t remember such rain occurring in the past,” Pawar said, adding only “panchanama” won’t suffice, the government should extend help for the entire crop loss.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said the flood situation in Marathwada has become grim. “Instead of being busy in politics and attending to political events, Fadnavis should pay attention to the flood situation in Marathwada and help the affected villagers,” Raut said.
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NCP state president Sunil Tatkare said, “Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has given instructions to officials to make all efforts to rescue the people and reach out to them with all necessary help. From tomorrow morning, Ajit Pawar will visit all the affected districts.”
Beed MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar said, “In entire Beed district, the overflowing rivers and nullahs have badly affected the standing crop and houses. The district has witnessed cloudbursts. In last 40-50 years, we have never witnessed this kind of rain.”
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