Sharad Pawar Urges Maharashtra Government for Immediate Relief Measures Amid Heavy Rainfall

Call for Urgent Relief and Rehabilitation in Maharashtra

Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, has called on the Maharashtra government to implement extensive relief and rehabilitation measures in response to the devastation caused by torrential rains across various regions of the state.

In a statement, Pawar emphasized that the damage assessment process, referred to as 'panchanama', should not be restricted by stringent deadlines. He pointed out that completing timely evaluations is often 'impossible during such unprecedented disasters'.

He added that compensation should also be considered for damages that become evident later, such as structural failures leading to house collapses or the impact on crops and livestock once floodwaters recede.

The situation remains critical in several districts due to the heavy rainfall, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes for safer locations.

The former Union Agriculture Minister also suggested that, in addition to immediate financial aid, the government should devise a long-term recovery and rehabilitation plan. This plan should encompass replanting crops, restoring orchards, revitalizing barren land, and repairing irrigation infrastructure, including dams, canals, wells, and pumping systems. He stressed the importance of prioritizing silt removal and soil conservation.