In their first joint effort to address the issues facing the State ahead of the formation of their Government in Maharashtra, a delegation of the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena will meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to seek relief for the unseasonal rain-affected farmers across the State.
Confirming this, State NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said on Friday evening the delegation of Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena would meet the Governor at 3 pm on Saturday.
“After the imposition of the President’s rule, the administration has come to a grinding halt in theState. The outgoing Government announced a relief of Rs 10,000 crore to the rain-affected farmers. After burning their destroyed crop, the farmers are readying themselves for sowing. Neither are they getting relief nor crop loans. The farmers are an aggrieved lot”.
“In Mantralaya, applications made by patients seeking help from the Government are gathering dust. At yesterday’s meeting, we all decided to go and meet the Governor and request him to activate the dormant Government machinery and to request him for relief to the rain-affected farmers,” Malik said.
Earlier in the day, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and urged him to release funds for farmers affected by unseasonal rains.
Fadnavis also urged the Governor to reopen and ensure smooth functioning of the CM Relief Fund through the governor’s office to ensure timely help for needy persons as the State was currently under President’s rule.
Fadnavis said that the Governor had accepted both his demands.
“Met Hon Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari ji at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai to request release of funds to the farmers affected due to unseasonal rains. Hon Governor assured immediate action on this, Fadnavis tweeted after his meeting with the Governor.
“I also requested for reopening & smooth functioning of CM Relief Fund through Hon Governors office so that no needy patient is deprived of necessary & timely support,” the former chief minister said.
Meanwhile, NCP President Sharad Pawar — who toured the wet drought-affected areas of Vidarbha region — said on Friday afternoon that he would raise the issue of huge losses suffered by the farmers during the winter session of Parliament beginning on November 18 and demand maximum compensation to the affected farmers.
“The farmers have suffered huge losses. The crops of orange, food grains, cotton, soya bean and Jowar have been badly affected. The losses suffered by farmers are much more than what has been estimated by the various district collectors,” Pawar said, while addressing a news conference in Nagpur.
Earlier this month, Fadnavis – in his capacity as the chief minister – had announced Rs 10,000 crore announced by the latter for the farmers hit by the unseasonal rains.
The severity of the unseasonal rains witnessed in the state during the last two months can be gauged from the fact that crops sown on 54.22 lakh hectares across 325 talukas have been damaged due to untimely rains in various parts of the state.
On his part, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had earlier slammed 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.
