Stop disaster tourism, says Sharad Pawar as Guv Bhagat Singh Koshyari, others visit flood, landslide sites

Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and BJP legislator Ashish Shelar on board an IAF helicopter on Tuesday. Pic/Twitter Ashish Shelar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar appealed to political leaders to not disturb the relief and rescue work by avoiding ‘disaster tourism' of the state's flood and landslide-affected sites. The suggestion came on Tuesday when Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was criticised for taking BJP's suspended legislator Ashish Shelar on board during his visit to the Konkan region.

Pawar said the VIPs who are not involved in day-to-day work and relief measures should not visit disaster sites. "The CM, DCM and guardian minister must visit the sites to understand the situation and guide the administration. However, many people who have no reasons whatsoever go there as well. It affects the relief work," he said, announcing a relief package by the NCP-controlled Rashtravadi Welfare Trust. The aid comprising essential utensils will be distributed to the families from the affected areas.

Pawar said he had advised former prime minister Narasimha Rao to postpone his visit to the earthquake site in Latur 30 years ago because the tour would have affected relief work. "The entire machinery would have been busy during the PM's visit. Thankfully, Rao readily agreed to travel after 10 days. I will not go to any flood-affected site. I know if I go there the people involved in relief work will get around me, which, to me, will be inappropriate in times of crisis. I think such tours, especially of the people who are not responsible for the relief work, should stop," he said.

Barb for Governor

When asked about the governor, he added with a pinch of sarcasm, "It's okay that the governor has also gone there. Perhaps his visit will get the people more help from the Centre. His relations with the Centre are good."

Commenting on the suspended BJP legislator Ashish Shelar's presence in the governor's party, Pawar said, "The governor must have the trust in him (Shelar)."

Shiv Sena's MLA from Guhagar Bhaskar Jadhav also chided Koshyari for taking Shelar along. Shelar and 11 other BJP legislators were suspended for a year early this month following an alleged fracas with Jadhav, then a presiding officer in the Assembly, in the deputy speaker's office.

Jadhav said 1,500 volunteers could not take up the cleaning work in the town on Tuesday because of the high-security restrictions on movement amid the governor's visit.

Also read: Constructions in river floodline areas a fact, govt will have to take decision: Sharad Pawar

The background

Union minister Narayan Rane's visit to the affected areas last week was marked by the absence of senior revenue and police officials. A furious Rane, who was accompanied by former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, had taken the IAS officer in charge of the district to task over a phone call. The visuals of Rane slamming the officer had gone viral.

Before Rane's visit, Opposition leader in the legislative council Pravind Darekar, ex-minister Girish Mahajan and MLC Niranjan Dawkhare had claimed to have visited Taliye village before the district administration reached to rescue the landslide victims. Darekar had accused the state machinery of an inordinate delay in the relief and rescue work.

Following these incidents, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had announced that the district collector, superintendent of police, and civic commissioner will not be required to attend to VIPs, and that a nodal officer will be appointed to take care of the protocol duties.

A couple of days ago, union minister of state Ramdas Athwale also visited certain spots. On Tuesday, energy minister Nitin Raut was in Pen, Mahad and Nagothane to supervise the restoration of the electricity network.

Fadnavis to start visit

Opposition leader in the assembly, Fadnavis, said he would be visiting the flood-affected areas of western Maharashtra from Wednesday. "What Pawar said is that such tours should not burden the government machinery. He is absolutely right. In the Opposition's case, the government order bars its agencies from briefing or accompanying us. But the Opposition ensures that the government machinery wakes up when we visit disaster sites. Another important thing we do is understand the people's problems and demands which we take up with the government."