Meghe demands aid for storm-hit

WARDHA, March 22: Member of Parliament Datta Meghe has threatened to launch a district-wide agitation on April 2 if the State Government fails to provide aid to the hailstorm-hit farmers immediately.

Talking to mediapersons after visiting the hailstorm-hit areas, Meghe said that Hinganghat, Samudrapur, Deoli, Wardha and Vailgaon areas in the district were the worst affected because of the hailstorm of March 15, 16 and 17. He called upon the district collector and submitted a report to him regarding the damage caused and urged the collector to provide necessary help to the affected people.

Describing the type and extent of the damage, Meghe said that wheat and gram crops were completely destroyed by the storm. The roofs of the huts owned by poor people were swept away because of the winds, rendering them homeless, he added. “The Government has failed to come to the rescue of these poor people,” he lamented. He said that the villagers badly needed Khavati loans and help to repair their homes, adding thatsome of the injured villagers were suffering due to lack of medical treatment. The farmers have been expressing resentment over the apathy shown by the Government towards their sufferings, Meghe added.