One more Minister mobbed by angry farmers demanding immediate relief

After sensing the anger among the farmers, the Minister immediately called up the officials and directed them to conduct immediate panchamas so that required assistance could be extended to the aggrieved farmers.

Speaking to reporters, Bharne said,”Like Vidarbha, Marathwada has also received excess rainfall which has affected crops on thousands of acres of land. Several villagers have been displaced. As per our initial estimates, crops on 70 lakh acres of land have been affected. Besides crop, livestock have been washed away, houses have collapsed or have suffered huge damage.”

The Agriculture Minister said the crop damage ”panchnama” is being conducted on war-footing. ”This is a natural calamity. We will have to face it. But the government did whatever was possible from its end to alleviate the suffering of farmers and villagers. The government will stand firmly behind the flood affected people of Marathwada. As soon as panchanama is over, we will start distributing the assistance. If the panchamas are not completed, we will still start distributing the compensation before Diwali,” he said.

The Minister said while  distributing the compensation, the state government will follow the norms set by the central government. ”This  government belongs to farmers. Even if there are certain norms, the government will submit its proposal to the state government. The government will always stand by and support farmers,” he said.

This is the second time in four days Bharne had to face the anger of farmers. In Washim on September 21, Bharne was mobbed by farmers. ”The rain has washed away all our crops. How will we celebrate Diwali now,” asked farmers when Bharne had visited the Amani area of Malegaon taluka. Bharne is the District Guardian Minister of Washim.
On Tuesday, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan had to face the ire of farmers too in Dharashiv district.

During his tour of the flood-affected  Dharashiv district, the motorcade of Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan was stopped by villagers at Chinchpur village in Bhoom taluka.

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 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 the neighbouring district.

Speaking to reporters, Mahajan 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. Crops have been lost, livestock washed away, people have been displaced…..I have been in touch with the Chief Minister for the past two-three days. I have discussed everything with the Chief Minister.”