Ruling parties lack courage to speak about Marathwada's problems, says Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday criticised the BJPled Maharashtra government over what he described as delays in development works in Marathwada and alleged that leaders of the ruling parties lacked the courage to raise the regions problems reported the PTIThackeray was speaking at a party programme titled lsquoMarathwadyacha Vikas Tum Se Na Ho Payegarsquo Marathwadas Development You Wont Be Able to Do It in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on the occasion of Marathwada Liberation DayThe former chief minister raised issues concerning farmers crop losses and the droughtlike situation in parts of Maharashtra the news agency reportedHe alleged that the Mahayuti government had failed to provide adequate assistance to farmers affected by crop losses and sought relief measures for cultivators the news agency reportedThe state government has said croploss surveys will begin after October 5 and that financial assistance will be provided from state resources while awaiting assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund NDRFMarathwada development backlog has risen UddhavThackeray claimed that the development backlog of Marathwadas eight districts had increased to Rs 60000 croreAccording to the PTI he also criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over his visit to New Delhi on Prime Minister Narendra Modis birthday and questioned the governments focus on the regions developmentThackeray said elected representatives from Marathwada should raise issues concerning the region and its farmersReferring to the rainfall situation Thackeray criticised the governments decision to begin croploss surveys after October 5He compared Maharashtras response with that of Karnataka claiming that Karnataka had declared drought conditions on August 27 and started related measuresMaharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule had said on September 14 that 18 districts in the state were facing droughtlike conditions because of inadequate rainfall He said district collectors had been asked to prepare reports on the situation as per the PTIThackeray questions spending on advertisementsThackeray also criticised Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over newspaper advertisements issued on the occasion of Prime Minister Modis birthdayHe said the money spent on such advertisements should instead have been used for the development of MarathwadaHe also cited the example of a farmer from Latur whose bull was reportedly killed by lightning and claimed that the replacement bull arranged by the government was unwell the news agency reportedWorkers asked to monitor croploss surveysThackeray called on Shiv Sena UBT workers to monitor croploss surveys and mobilise farmers irrespective of caste and religionHe also urged party workers to raise farmers concerns at the village levelDanve raises irrigation concernsSenior Shiv Sena UBT leader Ambadas Danve alleged that decisions announced for Marathwadas development had been implemented slowly reported the PTIReferring to Article 3712 of the Constitution Danve claimed that the state government had taken 780 decisions relating to the regions development but that only 12 per cent had been implementedHe also alleged that adequate funds had not been released for irrigation projects announced for MarathwadaAccording to Danve 13 irrigation projects were announced in 2023 with an allocation of Rs 13000 crore but only around Rs 800 crore to Rs 900 crore had been released so far as per the PTIThese figures and allegations were made by Danve and were not independently established in the material available for this reportMarathwada Liberation DayThe programme was held on Marathwada Liberation Day observed on September 17 The region which was part of the erstwhile Hyderabad State came under Indian Union administration in September 1948 following the end of the Nizams rulewith PTI inputs