Amid the ongoing power tussle between the saffron alliance partners, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackrey on Sunday picked a bone with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the “too less” relief of Rs 10,000 crore announced by the latter for the farmers hit by the unseasonal rains and demanded that the affected farmers be given Rs 25,000 per hectare of destroyed crop immediately.
Talking to media persons at Aurangabad after touring the unseasonal rains-hit parts of Marthwada, Uddhav also took pot shots at Fadnavis, by citing oft-repeated statement during his election rallies “Me Punha Yain (I will return as the Chief Minister)” and comparing it with rains that lashed the state during this year. “The recurring rains seem to tell us: Me Punha Yain. I dread such a prospect”.
Taking one more jibe at the chief minister, Uddhav said: “The farmers have suffered huge loss due to unseasonal rains. But, one should not undertake a study of the situation from an helicopter”.
A day after the Devendra Fadnavis Government approved Rs 10,000 crore as immediate relief to the farmers affected by the recent unseasonal rains, Uddhav said the Shiv Sena was with the farmers in their hour of crisis caused by unseasonal rains.
“It is water all over the place. The unseasonal rains have created a slush in their agricultural fields but also in their lives. The farmers need help to tide over this crisis. The Rs 10,000 crore relief announced by the Maharashtra government is too less. The State Government and the Centre should immediately declare wet drought in the state and announce a relief of Rs 25,000 per hectare of damaged crop”.
Uddhav also hit out at the Insurance companies for the inordinate delay in clearing crop insurance claims made by the farmers. “The insurance companies should reduce their paper work and extend help to the affected farmers. Like the insurance companies, the banks should simplify their procedures meant for extending help rto the farmers,” the Sena president said.
Uddhav hit out at the Centre for the delay in extending help to the affected farmers in the state. “The Centre should rush its men and relief material to farmers in Maharashtra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should also pay attention to the situation arising out of the unseasonal rains in the state”.
Meanwhile, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis reviewed the situation in various parts of Akola district in eastern Maharashtra where unseasonal rains have played havoc damaging standing crops on huge tracts of agricultural land.
Fadnavis, who surveyed the situation in Lakanwada, Chikalgaon and Maisapur villages in Akola district, said: “The rains that lashed this district during October have destroyed the crops of soyabean, Jowar, cotton and Moong pulses in a big way”. He assured the farmers of immediate relief.
After it approved Rs 10,000 crore relief to the farmers affected by the unseasonal rains on Saturday, the Maharashtra Government announced that it was writing to the Centre for relief. As many as 325 talukas have been affected by the unseasonal rains.
Speaking at a Cabinet sub-committee meeting held in Mumbai on Saturday, the chief minister said that relief measures were being implemented as quickly as possible in the affected areas.
“Without waiting for a relief from the Centre, the State government is releasing Rs 10,000 crore towards relief work.We are also asking the insurance companies to speed up the insurance process so that the distressed farmers could get relief at the earliest,” Fadnavis said.