Maharashtra demands Rs 6,000 crore aid for rehabilitation of flood victims

The Maharashtra government has sought aid of Rs 6,813 crores from the Centre as the flood toll in the states has reached 36.

Maharashtra chief minister on Tuesday said that the relief work in the flood-affected areas was almost over and the focus now was on rehabilitation.

"The damages have been huge due to heavy rainfall. We are sending a memorandum to the Centre. There are two parts to the memorandum. First is for Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli and the second is for Konkan, Nasik and rest of Maharashtra," said CM Devendra Fadnavis.

The state has demanded funds worth Rs 4700 crores for Kolhapur, Satara and Sangli and Rs 2105 for Konkan, Nashik and rest of Maharashtra. The chief minister elaborated that till the time the central aid is received the state will start work using the State Disaster Funds. There would be compensation of Rs 10000 for rural areas and Rs 15000 for urban areas. Rs 75000 would be given for small businesses that have suffered damages.

Here’s how the other distribution plans would pan out

Rs 222 crores for rebuilding and repairs of the house
Rs 876 crores for rebuilding roads and bridges
Rs 125 crores for repairs of schools

When asked about his ministers grabbing headlines for wrong reasons the CM replied, "I understand there is a lot of criticism about ministers. Girish Mahajan shouldn’t have waved at the camera. Chandrakant Patil wasn’t shouting at people but some things are blown out of proportion. But we too are human beings."

With floodwater receding further, there is finally some respite for the people of Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur. After more than a week of devastation, life is slowly returning to normal in the flood-ravaged districts. People are returning from the rescue camps only to find their houses in ruins. In the Ghalwad village of Kolhapur, India Today TV saw many people returning to their houses. Many were seen cleaning and setting things in order.

But even as there are signs of normalcy returning to the flood-affected areas, there is lurking suspicion among many that things might get worse yet again.

The Krishna and the Panchganga river are still flowing above the danger mark. While Krishna river’s danger level is 45 ft, it is currently flowing at 55 ft. The Panchganga river, on the other hand, is flowing at 46 ft while its danger level is at 43 ft.

The efforts to deliver food, water and medicines are still on at many villages. Lakhs of people have been displaced making the work of the agencies doubly challenging. Controlling any health crisis is also running in the minds of the agencies. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has sent teams to check disease outbreak in Sangli and Kolhapur.