Pune: Opposition parties in Maharashtra have criticised the state govt for missing the Oct 12 deadline it had set to complete panchanamas in drought-affected areas, warning the slow progress could delay relief from the Centre.The panchanama process began after Sept 26, shortly after drought was declared in more than 70% of the state. State agriculture minister Dattatray Bharne had said the Central relief package would be based on these damage assessments. The govt has not released official figures on the progress, but sources said 80% of the process has been completed. Early in Oct, Bharne said 44% of the process had been completed.But opposition parties alleged the state has not taken steps to speed up the process. State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said: “If the state govt delays the submission of the detailed report on drought, the relief package to be announced by the Centre will also be delayed. It has been nearly a month since drought was declared but there’s no sign of relief.”The opposition also warned that delays in relief would lead to early migration from rural areas to cities. “No work under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission has started in the drought-affected areas. The state should start the work under employment guarantee schemes to provide income to affected families. If the govt delays these decisions, families will find it difficult to sustain themselves, and will migrate to cities for jobs,” Sapkal said.The state govt has announced Rs 5,000 per farmer as advance payments, to be disbursed before Diwali. Opposition parties said the amount was too low. Senior member of Shiv Sena (UBT) Ambadas Danve said: “We are ready to give Rs 5,000 to every minister of the state govt. Let them show people how Diwali can be celebrated with just Rs 5,000. The state has failed to provide relief to drought-affected areas.”State agriculture minister Dattatray Bharne said: “It is true that farmers are in distress and it is the govt’s responsibility to provide them with all possible relief. I want to assure every farmer that the govt is taking adequate steps to provide help.”
