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Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Friday announced a Rs. 10,000 crore relief package for the reconstruction of basic amenities destroyed due to the recent torrential rains from June to October 2020. “The rain-fed and perennial crops will be given Rs 10,000 per hectare. With this for up to two hectares of area for horticultural crop Rs. 25,000 per hectare will be given,” the CM said.
He said the government will provide the financial aid as per the criteria to the next of kin, livestock killed due to rains and for house collapse.
A meeting was convened by the Chief Minister to review the situation in rain-affected areas of the state at his official residence Varsha, which was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Relief and Rehabilitation Minister, Vijay Wadettiwar, Revenue Minister, Balasaheb Thorat, Water Resource Minister, Jayant Patil among others via video conferencing.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government has gone a step forward from the criteria set by National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) to extend the aid to the affected people.
He said, along with the crops, basic amenities have suffered massive damage, therefore, respective departments will be allocated funds for the redevelopment work.
Out of the Rs. 10,000 crore package, Rs. 5,500 will be allocated to the agriculture sector. “For repair and reconstruction of roads and bridges Rs. 2,665 will be allocated. Urban development department would be provided Rs. 300 crore. Rs. 239 crore will be allocated to the Power department. For, Water Resource department Rs.102 crore will be allocated,” he said.
Similarly for rural roads and water supply department Rs. 1000 crore will be allocated.
Thackeray clarified that repair works of damaged roads, bridges, water supply department, houses, primary health centres (PHCs) would be done from this fund.
Stating that the crisis is huge, he said the aid should reach the affected before the commencement of the festival season. Thackeray said, he and colleagues in the Cabinet have visited the rain-affected areas and in such times it is necessary to stand firmly with the farmers and those affected.
The Chief Minister also directed the concerned officials to provide the relief package to the affected person before the festival of Diwali next month.
Thackeray claimed that since the Maha Vikas Aghadi government came to power in November 2019, it has provided financial relief of Rs 30,800 crore which also includes the loan waiver scheme, adding that a proposal was sent to the Union Government to provide relief package of Rs. 1,065.58 to those affected due to the ‘Nisarga’ cyclone. However, the Centre has not extended any help to the State, till now.
The CM said the state government has meanwhile given all the necessary help to cyclone-affected people. He said that Rs. 38,000 crore from the GST and Central tax is also pending to be received from the Centre to the State.
“The state share of Rs. 38,000 crore from the arrears from the value-added tax, dues from the central taxes is yet to be received from the Centre,” he claimed. He added that despite sending reminder letters the Centre has the dues have still not been disbursed to the State Government.
