Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said the Centre's financial assistance of Rs 3,100 crore towards drought relief in Maharashtra, was the "biggest-ever" to the state for any natural disaster.
The Centre's move came a month after the State Government submitted a memorandum to it, seeking a relief package of Rs 4,000 crore. The amount, allocated out of the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), was approved by a committee headed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
"I am grateful to Government of India and Rajnath Singhji for approving financial assistance towards Maharashtra drought relief," Fadnavis said.
"It is the biggest-ever relief given by Central Government to Maharashtra. Thank you Narendra Modiji for the continuous care and support for farmers. I also spoke to Rajnath Singhji personally and expressed my gratitude and sincere thanks. The Centre has supported us very strongly in this hour of distress," the Chief Minister added.
The Centre on December 21 sanctioned Rs 2,443 crore to four States - Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha and Manipur -as assistance to deal with natural disasters faced by them.
Seeking to corner the Opposition parties, who had made drought relief a major issue in the just concluded Winter Session of Legislature, Fadnavis said, "There cannot be a more befitting reply to those who have been only doing politics on drought instead of uniting for farmers in times of distress."
On the last day of the Session held in Nagpur, the Opposition had made stinging attacks on the BJP-led Government after Maharashtra was not included in the four states that received financial aid to deal with natural calamities.
Opposition leaders had claimed Fadnavis has lost credibility at the Centre and his Government failed to send a proposal on time and thus did not receive any package.
Relief and Rehabilitation minister Eknath Khadse had then rejected the allegations and said the Centre has already disbursed Rs 920 crore to the state from NDRF.
In October, the Government declared drought in 14,708 villages, most of them are in Aurangabad division in Central Maharashtra.
"A report on drought situation was sent to the Centre well in time - in November against the practice of sending it in January. Moreover, the Government has made a provision of Rs 4,000 crore in the Supplement demands and another Rs 920 cores was available from NDRF account," he had said.
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