Even though the Maharashtra government had requested ₹7,900 crore as drought relief from the Centre, the Union government on Tuesday approved a grant of ₹4,714 crore for the State.
Last week, the State government had announced that it would release ₹2,900 crore from its treasury to extend immediate assistance to farmers. Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Chandrakant Patil said that the government was releasing the amount as the financial package from the Centre was taking time.
He said, “Till the Centre sends us the money, we will be spending half of the sum from our treasury to ensure farmers get relief. The money will be deposited in the accounts of farmers as compensation for crop damaged due to drought.”
The government had said that the Centre’s package would be used for the 151 tehsils that had been declared drought-prone. Later, drought was declared in 318 revenue circles (each with 15-20 villages) and another 931 villages. As per the government estimate, 82.27 lakh farmers and 85.76 hectares were hit by drought. The government in its proposal to the Centre had sought ₹7,103 crore as compensation for crop losses, ₹535 crore for fodder supply and ₹323 crore for drinking water supply.
Medha Gadgil, Additional Chief Secretary (Relief and Rehabilitation), said, “We do not have the exact date when the money will be released, but we are sure that it will arrive at the earliest.”
The Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, termed the aid inadequate. He said, “The original demand was not sufficient and the Centre has made cuts in it. There is no guarantee when the money will be received. Money that was to come from the NDRF in December 2017 still has not reached the State.”
