Latur, Sept 26 With drought being declared in 265 talukas of Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday said the state government must now focus on the implementation of relief measures and ensure that every affected farmer gets assistance.
The government has announced a slew of relief measures, including land revenue concessions, restructuring of crop loans, postponement of recovery of agriculture-related loans and concessions in electricity bills of agricultural pumps. “This drought or Super El Nino is not only going to affect agriculture but urban areas as well. The state government on Saturday declared 265 of the 358 talukas in the state as drought-affected, announcing relief measures, including restructuring of crop loans, concession in land revenue and deferment of recovery of agriculture-related loans. This covers 74 per cent of the state, according to a government resolution issued late on Friday.
The former state minister, however, said the focus should now shift from the declaration to implementation of relief measures. “Now that it has been declared, the government should ensure that every farmer gets whatever assistance is provided under the complete drought relief package,” he said. It will affect the entire Maharashtra and the country,” he said. “The state and the central governments should work together and focus on what plans can be announced for the country,” he said.
Thackeray, who is on a tour to drought-hit areas of Marathwada, said his party had been demanding declaration of drought for some time, and maintained that the decision should have been taken earlier.
