Civic body yet to announce drought relief

CBD BELAPUR: Even as Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, known as one of the richest civic bodies in the country, is busy spending lakhs of rupees on activities such as sports events, it has turned a blind eye to the plight of drought-affected people in several districts of the Marathwada region in the state.

Residents in the city have now demanded that a proposal to extend financial support to drought victims be passed during the NMMC general body meeting on Thursday.

Anant Sutar, leader of the house in the civic body said, “NCP corporators will definitely help drought victims. They will announce financial support after a discussion with Thane guardian minister Ganesh Naik.”

Dashrath Bhagat, president of District Congress Committee, who contributed Rs1 lakh to the Chief Minister’s drought relief work said, “I will write to NMMC seeking help from corporators for drought relief work.”

For the fourth year in a row, several regions in the state are reeling under severe drought because of which people neither have access to potable water nor fodder for their animals.

Although the state and central governments have mobilised funds for the drought-affected, there is need for more.

Taking stock of the situation, NMMC officials and employees had also donated a day’s salary to the chief minister’s drought relief work and the Agriculture Produce Market Committee opened a fodder depot in drought-hit areas.

Opposition leader in NMMC Dilip Ghodekar said “We have written the commissioner on Monday asking for support from the civic body for relief work in the drought-hit region.”