Maharashtra Will Have To Take Loan To Help Flood-Hit People: Sharad Pawar

Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Monday that Maharashtra is facing a “historic economic crisis” and the state government has no option but to take loans to help the flood-affected people in the state.

Last week, heavy rains and floods killed at least 48 people in Pune, Aurangabad, and Konkan divisions, while crops lying on millions of hectares were damaged.

According to official information, as of Friday, 40,036 people in four districts had been shifted to safer places, including 32,500 in Solapur and more than 6,000 in Pune.

Pawar, who is visiting the Marathwada region to review the flood situation, told reporters in Osmanabad that the state government could do nothing alone in a crisis of such magnitude.

Pawar said, “The state has no choice but to take a loan to help the flood-affected people. The state is facing a historic economic crisis. I will meet the chief minister to discuss the issue.”

He said that Osmanabad, Latur, Solapur, Nanded, and Pandharpur (in Solapur) were among the worst affected places, causing damage to crops like soybean and sugarcane.

Asked about the BJP’s criticism that the state government was at the center for help and doing nothing, Pawar said, “(former Prime Minister) Vajpayee did not see the party affiliation when he appointed me the head of the disaster management authority because of the work done during the Latur earthquake (in 19923).”

“During a crisis, the state and central governments work together. The state government cannot do anything alone in a crisis of such magnitude,” he said.

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