Corporators want drought sufferers given every aid

Corporators in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday called for desperate measures to help drought-affected villages in the state, including adopting drought-hit villages in Marathwada and allowing drought-affected people to build houses in the city.

Corporators demanded that the civic body provide aid to people coming from these drought-hit areas in every possible manner.

Standing committee chairman Shailesh Phanse (Shiv Sena) said that the BMC should adopt some of the drought-affected villages in Marathwada to provide them proper aid.

MNS corporator Sandeep Deshpande demanded that the BMC allow drought-affected people to build houses in the city and should later regularise them.

“The drought-affected people are the guests of Mumbai. It is the duty of every Mumbaikar to offer them a helping hand. The BMC should also provide them help in every possible manner. The outsiders come in the city, build illegal hutments and then they are regularised. Hence, the BMC should allow drought-affected people, who have come in Mumbai, to construct houses,” said Mr Deshpande.

On the line of night shelters, the civic body should also provide drought shelters for these people and also provide food, water and if possible employment too, he added.

The issue was raised by leader of opposition Pravin Chheda (Congress), who said owing to water scarcity, people from drought-affected areas have been forced to migrate to cities such as Mumbai and Pune. Hundreds of drought victims are coming to Mumbai in the hope of getting employment. The BMC should erect camps for these people across the city, Mr Chheda demanded.

Meanwhile, the NCP corporators have decided to contribute their honorarium amount of one month to the BMC for the drought-affected people. NCP city chief Sachin Ahir will hand over a cheque of Rs1.4 lakh to the BMC chief on Thursday.