Vidarbha:
A Maharashtra minister had to face the wrath of flood victims on Sunday. Guardian Minister for Chandrapur district, Sanjay Deotale, was touring parts of the district to meet flood affected people, when some of them pelted stones at his car and shouted slogans. Police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the mob and later arrested seven residents of the area.
The incident highlights the plight of those affected by floods in Maharashtra - many of whom have lost belongings and shelter.
The flood-affected were demanding speedy disbursal of cash relief and necessary items. District Magistrate Dr Deepak Mhaisekar, who was accompanying Mr Deotale, later told NDTV, "the flood-affected wanted to give a memorandum of demands to the minister, hence we went to meet them during his visit to flood-affected areas. The people were temporarily displaced for a day or two and have returned to their areas." He refused to comment on the allegations of political conspiracy behind the incident, by local Congress workers.
An estimated 3,000 people were displaced in Chandrapur district alone which witnessed heavy floods during the last two weeks. Over 15,000 houses were damaged in six districts of east Vidarbha, including Chandrapur.
Even today, the reality on ground across all those flood-hit districts continues to paint a gloomy picture.
The farms are still muddy and flooded. The farmers have lost whatever they had sown and may have to arrange more funds for another sowing session.
Out of 238 lives lost in the state due to floods in a month, 108 cases are from Vidarbha.
The state has already announced Rs 2.5 lakhs for the next of kin of those dead. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who had toured some flood-hit areas in Vidarbha recently, announced a package of Rs 1,835 crores for flood-hit Vidarbha in Maharashtra assembly on Thursday. The package includes Rs 600 crores for long assistance aid to rebuild roads and bridges.
The incident highlights the plight of those affected by floods in Maharashtra - many of whom have lost belongings and shelter.
The flood-affected were demanding speedy disbursal of cash relief and necessary items. District Magistrate Dr Deepak Mhaisekar, who was accompanying Mr Deotale, later told NDTV, "the flood-affected wanted to give a memorandum of demands to the minister, hence we went to meet them during his visit to flood-affected areas. The people were temporarily displaced for a day or two and have returned to their areas." He refused to comment on the allegations of political conspiracy behind the incident, by local Congress workers.
An estimated 3,000 people were displaced in Chandrapur district alone which witnessed heavy floods during the last two weeks. Over 15,000 houses were damaged in six districts of east Vidarbha, including Chandrapur.
Even today, the reality on ground across all those flood-hit districts continues to paint a gloomy picture.
The farms are still muddy and flooded. The farmers have lost whatever they had sown and may have to arrange more funds for another sowing session.
Out of 238 lives lost in the state due to floods in a month, 108 cases are from Vidarbha.
The state has already announced Rs 2.5 lakhs for the next of kin of those dead. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who had toured some flood-hit areas in Vidarbha recently, announced a package of Rs 1,835 crores for flood-hit Vidarbha in Maharashtra assembly on Thursday. The package includes Rs 600 crores for long assistance aid to rebuild roads and bridges.
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