Maharashtra floods: CM Thackeray writes to Sitharaman urging to disburse 50% insured amount to victims

On Thursday, July 29, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray wrote a letter to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman requesting her to direct the insurance company to disburse 50 per cent of the insured amount to the flood-affected people in the state last week.

This development came after CM held several meetings with the representatives of the insurance companies, collectors of flood-affected districts and the state-level bankers’ committee.

"The representatives of insurance companies have agreed to pay at least 50 per cent amount of the coverage. However, they stressed on obtaining directives or instructions from the Union government to the headquarters of the insurance companies as well as to the IRDA," Thackeray was quoted as saying by PTI.

During the meeting, he also asked the insurance company representatives to accept the damage assessment reports prepared by the local revenue officials.

The insurance companies should not insist on not removing the damaged items for the sake of damage assessment. The revenue officials should take clear pictures of the damaged areas to avoid any confusion during the assessment, Thackeray added.

The flood-affected areas need to be cleared to avoid any spread of infection or epidemic diseases.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, chief secretary Sitaram Kunte and other senior ministers were also present at the meeting.

According to reports, the floods have claimed over 200 lives and affected nearly 1,351 villages in Konkan and Western Maharashtra. Besides, 1.94 lakh residents staying in these areas have been hit by the floods in these areas.

Thackeray, in his letter, also mentioned that there is a huge loss of lives and properties due to the floods. In all the flood-hit areas, orders have been given to the revenue authorities to carry out immediate panchnama (inspection and assessment of the losses).

Moreover, in another meeting with bankers, Thackeray made an appeal to banks to provide loans at concessional rates to traders, shopkeepers and other people affected by the floods.