Kadam demands special legislature session to discuss floods

Ahmednagar, Aug 15 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra State Assembly Ramdas Kadam has demanded that a special two-day session of the legislature be convened to discuss the flood situation in the State.

''18 districts in the State have been affected due to the floods which have caused immense loss,'' he told reporters after visiting some flood=affected areas in Kopargaon here.

Accusing the Centre of turning a blind eye to Maharashtra's woes, he noted Mumbai city alone contributes Rs 57,000 crore as taxes to the Centre but at times of natural calamities, the Centre announces only paltry packages thereby making a mockery of the State.

Mr Kadam demanded that farmers who had lost their crops owing to the floods should be compensated at the rate of Rs 30,000 per hectare. He alleged that the State Government had failed in rehabilitating the flood-affected.

Meanwhile, commenting on the expulsion of Mrs Shalinitai Patil from the Nationalist Congress Party because of her stand against caste-based reservations, Mr Kadam remarked that Mrs Patil's views are in consonance with that of the Shiv Sena and if she wished to join that party, she would be welcomed.

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