Focus on Relief, Maharashtra CM to Seek Rs 6,813 Crore from Centre After Floods in the State

PTI, Aug 13, 2019, 5:20 PM IST

Kolhapur/Mumbai: With rescue operations over in flood-hit Kolhapur and Sangli, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said his government will seek a relief package of Rs 6,813 crore from the Centre.

The proposal to be sent to the Centre will be in two parts – seeking Rs 4,708 crore assistance for Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara districts and Rs 2,105 crore for Konkan, Nashik and rest of Maharashtra, Fadnavis told reporters in Mumbai after the weekly Cabinet meeting.

Kolhapur and Sangli districts have been the worst hit following heavy rains in Konkan and western parts of the state where 43 people died in the deluge in last nine days.

With flood waters receding in both the districts, the authorities there are now focusing on providing essential supplies to people affected by the rain fury. “Rescue operations have been completed in Kolhapur.

The national highway (NH-4) is open and the traffic is moving slowly. Petrol, diesel and gas supplies have been restored. Work is going on a war-footing to restore power and phone connectivity,” resident deputy collector Sanjay Shinde said.

Relief centres have been set up and all efforts are being made to make sure the essential supplies reach the flood-affected people, he said.

“We have also begun the process of distributing monetary relief to the people,” he said.

Sangli Collector Abhijit Choudhari also said the rescue operation was completed in his district and their main focus was on providing essential supplies to people.

“Relief material is being provided to people at over 160 camps set up in the district. We are also working on assessing the losses,” he said.

Another official at the collectorate said the flood waters were receding rapidly in Sangli.

“Around 17 villages are marooned. Essential items are being sent there through boats as roads in those areas are in a bad condition,” she said.

“To check health hazards, water is being supplied to flood-hit people after being treated at filtration plants and even water tankers are properly sanitized,” the official said, adding that health camps have also been set up at various places in Sangli.

Despite the flood waters receding, major rivers in both Kolhapur and Sangli were still flowing above the danger mark, another official said.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis said the state government will seek a Rs 6,813 crore package from the Centre for relief and rehabilitation of flood victims.

A provision has been made for seeking an assistance of Rs 2,088 crore for crop damages, Rs 876 crore for road and bridge repairs, Rs 300 crore for families of deceased, Rs 222 crore for repairs of house damages and Rs 125 crore for repair of schools and restoration of water supply schemes, he said.

The state will for the first time also seek Rs 300 crore for losses incurred by small traders, he said.

Besides, Rs 168 crore would be sought for irrigation works, Rs 75 crore for health-related initiatives, Rs 66 crore to Rs 70 crore for cleaning the areas, Rs 27 crore for temporary camps, Rs 30 crore for loss of livestock, Rs 25 crore for relief works and Rs 11 crore to help the fishermen, he said.

On the same lines, Rs 2,105 crore assistance is planned for Konkan region, Nashik and rest of the affected districts in the state, he said.

Fadnavis also said a cabinet sub-committee has been formed under his leadership to discuss change or amend rules and issue government resolutions (GRs) for rescue, relief and rehabilitation.

An expert committee will also be appointed to suggest actions/remedies to be taken in case of 700 per cent rainfall in four days, he added.