Dhananjay Munde wants government to declare half of Maharashtra as drought-hit

Mumbai: Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde today lashed out at the government's "apathy" towards the regions in the state that were reeling under severe drought conditions.

Dhananjay Munde

He said half of the total 355 talukas across the state should be declared drought-hit. "The BJP government should declare drought where the rain is 50 per cent below the average. Announce half of the state as drought-affected immediately," he said in a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Farmers are reeling under severe drought and ministers have disappeared, he said. Munder accused the government of not having held a cabinet meeting after August 11. During the Congress-NCP regime, 133 talukas were declared as drought-affected on 19 August last year, although the situation was not as severe as this time.

"The previous government's decision proved helpful and had given relief to the farmers. However, the BJP government is not serious towards tackling drought," he said. "The Devendra Fadnavis government is apathetic and non-serious," he charged.

He added that the Revenue Minister (Eknath Khadse) had said that the primary report of panchanama (assessment) will be received by the end of September. "This is nothing but time pass," he charged.