Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and took part in a cleanliness drive at Juhu Beach on Saturday. The initiative aimed to instill a sense of environmental responsibility and civic duty among citizens.
Earlier last week, on Thursday, CM Shinde, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde, visited Tarsa in Nagpur district to inspect paddy crops damaged by unseasonal rain. The entourage assessed the extensive destruction caused by the unexpected weather patterns.
Reports indicated large-scale damage in Mauda taluka and Ramtek Parshivani taluka. In Nagpur district alone, approximately 124 villages were adversely affected, with 852 hectares of crops damaged. The unanticipated rain wreaked havoc on various crops, including grapes, onions, tomatoes, sugarcane, and leafy vegetables, impacting the agricultural landscape of the Nashik district.
On November 27, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule had already called attention to the plight of farmers in Maharashtra, urging the state government to take swift action. Sule emphasized the need for immediate assistance and proposed that a team from Delhi be summoned to assess the situation comprehensively.
“Maharashtra is standing at a difficult turn. A lot of damage has been caused by untimely rains. Everyone should start to work with sensitivity for the state and farmers… I want to request the Maharashtra government to immediately call a team from Delhi, and all of this should be inspected,” Sule had stated.
“The central government should soon give more funds to Maharashtra. Wherever farmers have suffered losses, loans should be waived off. I and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) will present this issue in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha,” she added, underscoring the urgency of financial assistance to aid the affected farmers.
As Maharashtra grapples with the dual challenges of crop damage and environmental concerns, the state government is under increasing pressure to provide swift and effective relief measures. The collaborative efforts of leaders, both at the state and central levels, will be crucial in addressing the immediate needs of the affected communities and restoring the agricultural sector to its former vibrancy.
