Maharashtra Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis on Monday visited flood-hit areas of Marathwada and western Maharashtra to take stock of the damage caused after heavy rains.
Fadnavis visited the rain-affected areas around Baramati and in Daund tehsil of Pune district and demanded that the chief minister announce a relief package immediately. He went to some farms and took stock of the damage caused due to the heavy rains.
He said the state government should provide immediate help to the affected farmers instead of getting into procedures like "conducting panchnama" (assessment). He also said that the Centre is ready to help to the state, but the state government should not shrug off its primary responsibility of helping the affected farmers.
"When I was chief minister last year and the state experienced floods, I announced a package of Rs 10,000 crore without waiting for the Centre's funds," Fadnavis said.
"We had also issued an order to take photos on mobile phone of the damage incurred as panchnama or proof of losses. The state government has to take responsibility," he said.
Earlier this week, heavy rains and floods claimed at least 48 lives in Pune, Aurangabad and Konkan divisions, while crops on lakhs of hectares were damaged.
As per the official information, till Friday, as many as 40,036 people had been shifted to safer places in four districts, including over 32,500 in Solapur and over 6,000 in Pune.