Maharashtra: Opposition refuses discussion on drought, wants govt to compensate farmers

“This time it is more severe than the 1972 drought. He claimed that even 22 days after drought was declared, the government was yet to undertake relief measures and provide water tankers to the people,” Munde said.

He further demanded that the government should announce compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare to farmers and Rs 1 lakh to farmers having orchards and waive the fees of students for the entire year. “We don’t want discussion on this issue. First announce immediate relief to the affected farmers,” said Munde who also demanded tabling of the State Backward Class Commission’s report in the House.

Meanwhile, responding to Munde, Leader of the House and Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said that the state Cabinet has accepted the commission’s recommendations and formed a Cabinet sub-committee for the implementation of the Maratha quota. We will take a legal opinion on whether the commission’s report can be tabled in the Legislature, said Patil.

However, Munde’s adjournment motion was rejected by Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, chairman of the Legislative Council. Subsequently, due to the ruckus created by the Congress and NCP legislators, the House was adjourned twice for 30 minutes and then it was adjourned for the day.