Maharashtra: Record 17 lakh hectares affected by rains, floods this year says Vijay Wadettiwar

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Maharashtra Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar on Saturday said approximately 17 lakh hectares of farm land have been affected by excessive rains and floods this year, which could be a record for the past 50 years, and the state government was taking all necessary steps to provide relief to those affected.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, he said the 17 lakh hectares that have been affected are spread over Marathwada, north Maharashtra, Konkan and a few districts of Vidarbha.

"This (area) damage caused by rains, floods and cloudburst is a kind of a record for the past 50 years, This is just preliminary information and I have directed concerned district collectors to conduct panchnamas (assessment)," he said.

Also read: Maharashtra to pay compensation for flood damage as per 2019 formula

Wadettiwar said compensation of up to Rs 4 lakh each had been given to the kin of those who had died, while relief has been provided for damaged homes, and work was underway to provide compensation as per SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) norms to farmers for crop damage.

"However, the compensation criteria as per SDRF norms have been same for the last six years, which is Rs 6,800 per hectare. We have requested the Central government to change these criteria and increase compensation for greater relief to farmers," Wadettiwar said.

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