Mumbai: Shiv Sena on Sunday criticised the government for neglecting drought conditions in Konkan region, and hit out at industries minister Narayan Rane for being ineffective on this front.
According to the party, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts have received less than 50 per cent of rainfall.
"Still, the 49 talukas in this region were not included in the list of 122 talukas declared drought hit. If the region`s guardian minister has not been able to give justice to the four districts, how will he take care of the entire state," the party MLC and secretary Vinayak Raut asked without naming Rane, one of the chief ministerial hopeful.
Rane, who is now with the Congress, had held the chief ministerial post in 1999 when he was in the Shiv Sena.
The party legislators and office bearers will meet Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan soon to demand inclusion of 49 talukas from Konkan in the drought hit talukas list.
On Friday, Chavan submitted a demand for Rs 3,761.61 crore financial package from the Centre for drought relief. The package includes Rs 942 crore for agriculture sector schemes, Rs 927 crore for water resources schemes, Rs 100 crore for water supply schemes and rest for fodder camps, supply of drinking water through tankers, among others.
PTI
