Fadnavis seeks special Central assistance for drought-hit Maharashtra
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and sought special financial assistance from the Centre for the state, where nearly 80 per cent of the talukas have been affected by severe drought.
During the meeting, Shah assured the Centre will provide maximum possible drought assistance to Maharashtra, he stated.
Talking to reporters later in the national Capital, Fadnavis said he handed over to Shah a copy of the state’s advance proposal seeking assistance and requested an immediate visit by a central team to assess the situation on the ground.
“I told him that Maharashtra is facing a severe drought. The problem of drinking water and fodder will also arise. The (water scarcity) situation is prevailing on a large scale in nearly 32 districts and, around 80 per cent of the talukas (265 out of 358) appear to be completely affected by drought,” he stated.
Fadnavis said a central team would visit Maharashtra from October 8 to 11 to undertake ground verification in various parts of the State.
Shah is chairman of the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) as well as the Inter-Ministerial Group which considers proposals related to drought assistance.
The CM said he had requested the Centre to provide special assistance to Maharashtra considering the overall drought situation created due to deficient rainfall.
“The Home Minister has shown a positive attitude and assured us that the Centre will provide maximum possible assistance,” he said.
Fadnavis said the state Government had decided not to wait for central funds and instead provide assistance to affected farmers from its own resources.
“Since the Centre’s funds come later, the state Government has decided that we will first provide assistance from our own resources,” he maintained.
He said surveys of some crops undertaken to assess the extent of losses had been completed in around 23,000 villages.
Fadnavis assured the state Government would make efforts to complete the crop loss assessment process and release financial assistance to affected farmers at the earliest.
He pointed out that in the past drought in Maharashtra had been generally declared in November-end or December, but this time it was done early.
“This is the first year when, keeping all rules and criteria aside, we have declared drought in advance (in September-end),” Fadnavis said, adding the Government had decided to provide early assistance as farmers were facing difficulties.
Fadnavis credited Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for speedy drought assessment process in Maharashtra.
The CM said Chouhan personally contacted him after reports of drought situation in the state emerged and assured him of speedy central assistance.
“As soon as he saw the news about the drought, he called me first. He took all the required information and told me, ‘Do not worry, we will immediately provide assistance in this’,” Fadnavis said.
The Agriculture Minister had also taken steps to ensure an early visit by a central team to Maharashtra, he stated.
According to Fadnavis, Chouhan’s ministry allowed the state to submit an interim report so that the central assessment team could be sent without waiting for the final report.
“Their ministry set aside all the criteria and gave us permission to submit an interim report. The team cannot come unless the report is submitted. They told us to send the interim report and said even if changes were required later, they would accept them,” Fadnavis said.
