NEW DELHI: Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said that the Central Government would take due cognisance of the ongoing water crisis in Maharashtra and will sanction funds accordingly, adding that such issues should not be politicised.
Naidu told ANI that the government would call for a committee meeting, which will take a decision and sanction money.
“Natural phenomena like drought are not in our control. We wish that it rains soon. Rest we will do what is necessary. The states will give a report after inspecting the problem. Then we call for a committee meeting, which will take a decision and sanction money. This is the normal procedure and has been carried out many times, we know our duties, no need to politicise such issues,” said Naidu.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has improvised the natural calamity funds. Initially, the governments used to give money if the damage done was 50 percent and above, but now we release funds in damage that boundaries 33 percent. In case of loss of life, we have increased the compensation from Rs. 1, 20,000 to 4,00,000,” he added.
Highlighting the new insurance scheme started by the Centre Naidu said the ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bema Yojana’ is another step to provide relief to the farmers where they can insure their crops, which get destroyed by natural calamities.
“We will popularise this scheme too, the premium is low and claims are high,” he added.
Nine states, including Maharashtra, are presently suffering from acute water crisis.