Government denies lack of funds from centre

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis refused the allegations by the opposition on the last day of the Winter Session on Wednesday, that his government had failed to get relief funds from the Centre. He said the state has already received Rs 920 crore and is expecting an additional fund of around Rs 2,000 crore from the Centre in the coming days.

The Narendra Modi-led Union government announced financial help to drought hit West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Manipur and Odisha on Tuesday. However, Maharashtra was not in the list of those states that received financial aid from the Centre. The opposition raised the issue in the Upper House and disrupted the business of the House.

Opposition leader Dhananjay Munde, NCP legislator Sunil Tatkare, Congress group leader Manikrao Thakre, Jayant Patil, member of Peasant and Workers Party demanded clarification from the government over the issue. Mr Patil said farmers from the state are in distress and the state government had failed to secure relief funds from the Union government.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis' reply was disrupted by the opposition and the House was adjourned by mistake protem chairman Narendra Patil. Later, while speaking with The Asian Age outside the House, Mr Fadnavis said, "We have received highest amount from the Centre and we will start to distribute it to the farmers from next week."