Kolhapur floods: CM Thackeray says rehabilitation plan has to be made, asks authorities to deal with encroachments strictly

KOLHAPUR: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday visited flood-affected Kolhapur and said that the rehabilitation plan for the residents of flood-prone and landslide-prone areas has to be made.

"The residents are fed up with the difficulties they face every year due to floods. We have to undertake the task to rehabilitate them in coming years," said Thackeray.

He further said, "We need to take strong steps. There should be proper markings of the red line and blue line. I have asked district collector and other authorities to deal with the encroachments strictly and have told them that henceforth no building permissions in the flooding areas will be allowed."

Over the issue of non-implementation of the recommendations made by the earlier flood-related expert committee,

Thackeray

said, "I have asked for the reports of all the expert committee's set up earlier. The suggestions underlined by these experts will be taken into consideration."

Over Devendra Fadnavis' brief meet at

Shahupuri, Thackeray

said, "I learned he has arrived. I asked him to wait. We spoke in the open. I told him that a permanent solution must be drawn to avoid floods. Also, I said whatever inputs he has, we will discuss by calling a meeting at Mumbai."

Over the suggestion made by Fadnavis to divert the floodwater to drought-prone areas, Thackeray said many suggestions are being made. "We will have to check whether the suggestions are good or bad. Also, we have to ensure it does not put financial strain as everywhere the economy is slowed down. We don't want suggestions to be implemented in haste which will make itself another calamity. There is also a suggestion that the excess rainwater properly drains out from the rivers by removing hurdles."

"I am not chief minister making financial package announcement, I am the chief minister to help the affected persons. I have earlier cleared that I will never make announcements for cheap publicity. We will focus on immediate help which we have announced and a long-term solution. The floodwater is yet to recede, there is mud everywhere and an announcement will be made after there is improvement in the situation," added Thackeray.

He further said, "The NDRF criteria for relief needs to be changed. The criteria were fixed in 2015. I have asked centre to look into it. I have asked finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to ask insurance companies to consider the panchnama to be done by the revenue department for settling claims. Also, I have asked banks to provide loans to the traders at cheaper rates to make them stand again. We have not yet asked for financial help from centre. We will place demand only if it is required and after all panchnama and plan to rehabilitate and relief is finalised."