Centre Must Announce Rs 10,000 Crore Relief Package for Flood-Hit Marathwada: Uddhav

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday urged the central government to immediately announce a Rs 10,000 crore relief package for the flood-hit Marathwada region in Maharashtra, where heavy rains over the past four days have caused widespread devastation. In a strongly worded statement, Thackeray criticised bureaucratic delays, calling for swift aid without procedural hurdles like panchanama (damage assessments) or rigid ex-gratia rules. The demand comes amid reports of significant loss, highlighting the urgent needs of farmers and residents in the historically drought-prone area.

Officials reported at least eight deaths, hundreds of damaged houses, and crop losses across more than 33,000 hectares due to relentless downpours. Marathwada, comprising districts like Aurangabad, Jalna, and Beed, has long grappled with water scarcity, making sudden floods particularly destructive. The state cabinet, meeting in Mumbai, reviewed the crisis, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assuring comprehensive relief for affected farmers and citizens. Thackeray further proposed that banks refrain from deducting loan instalments from compensation deposits, advocating for clear instructions to financial institutions and the suspension of "wet drought" regulations to expedite aid.

Responding to Thackeray's accusations of "stepmotherly treatment" toward Marathwada, Fadnavis urged against politicising the disaster. "People don't expect politics during such a crisis. We are doing all that is needed to help," Fadnavis told reporters, dismissing the remarks as "laughable" and attributing them to opposition tactics. He clarified that relief efforts adhere to established rules, with separate compensations planned for house, cattle, and crop damages under standing orders, rejecting calls for a formal "wet drought" declaration.

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The floods underscore Maharashtra's vulnerability to extreme weather, exacerbated by climate change and inadequate infrastructure in rural belts. As relief operations intensify, Thackeray's plea amplifies calls for federal support, potentially influencing national disaster response policies. With the monsoon season waning, focus now shifts to rehabilitation, ensuring timely aid reaches the ground to mitigate long-term economic fallout for the agrarian heartland.

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