M'shtra govt to shift flood-hit to safer areas

The Maharashtra government has decided to rehabilitate people residing within flood lines permanently, by shifting them elsewhere.

The state has directed the district collectors to identify alternative places and immediately take decisions as soon as the rescue operations are over. Like last year, a special relief package will be given to the flood-affected.

"There is difference between the flood situation this year and the last year. Mumbai suburbs and Konkan areas were badly affected last year. But this year except Mumbai and Konkan, the Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad Nagpur and Amravati divisions have been badly affected by floods last week. The filing of records for losses in flood-affected areas has started. Like last year, a special relief package will be given to flood-affected people this year too," said rehabilitation minister Patangrao Kadam.

"The state has also decided to make at least one exit from those villages which are always affected by the annual floods. By taking people's representatives into confidence, the respective collector will send the list of the exits to the Help & Rehabilitation Department and we will forward this list to the Public Works Dept (PWD)," he said.