Mumbai: After heavy rains destroyed several harvest-ready crops and hectares of land, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and leader of opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis began their tours of the flood-hit areas of Marathwada and western parts of the state to take stock of the damage caused.
Thackeray along with Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat and Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar reached Akkalkot tehsil in Solapur district in the morning. After reviewing the damage in Solapur's Sangvi village, the chief minister assured all help to locals.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar, who is on a tour of the Marathwada region to review the flood situation, said that thec state is facing a "historic economic crisis" and the state government has no option but to borrow a loan to help the flood-affected people in the state.
After visiting Osmanabad district, he said, "Farmers of Osmanabad, Latur, Nanded, Solapur and Pandharpur area have suffered huge losses as their crops have been destroyed. The repair work of the damaged roads and irrigation canals has to start immediately to help the farmers. Only funding from the district planning board will not be enough. The tate and central governments would have to take independent decisions to help the victims. I don't think we can get people out of this crisis unless we go beyond the usual rules and regulations."
Thackeray, who also visited the affected Akkalkot taluka district, said, "It is a farmers' government. We will not let them suffer under any circumstances."
As Thackeray's convoy reached a bridge near the rain- hit village, the chief minister came out of his vehicle and took stock of the situation in the area from the bridge. Some villagers, however, expressed their displeasure and said the chief minister should have come to the affected spots to review the situation.
READ: 14 killed as heavy rains trigger floods in Maharashtra's Solapur
Thackeray, meanwhile, spoke to some locals en-route to the Sangvi village and assured them that the government is with them and will provide help. He told the villagers that he had come to review the situation and assured all help. "Don't get dejected, and take care," he said.