Form panel to probe flood lapses: Ex-MLA

Mumbai: Ex-MLA Sanjay Lakhe Patil has filed an application in Bombay high court seeking the constitution of an expert committee to probe and fix responsibility on government officials whom he accused of being responsible for the flood crisis in Western Maharashtra.

Mr Patil said the flood should be declared a man-made disaster because despite the heavy downpour, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) had failed to react for six days.

Mr Lakhe Patil had already filed a petition in the high court alleging that the state government was not following rules under Central Disaster Management Rule 2005. Therefore, he has made a fresh application, seeking the fixing of responsibility for the disaster.   

The application stated that the collector of Kolhapur, who is also a chairman of the district DMA, contacted SDMA officials on July 1, informing them that if the heavy downpour were to continue for a few days, water-logging would be seen in the district. It also states that the collector brought to the attention of the SDMA that Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur districts would face devastation if water from the Koyna, Almatti and Hippargi dams were not released well in advance.

Mr Lakhe-Patil alleged that despite this, no steps were taken by the SDMA.

The former MLA also alleged that while people were literally drowning, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis — who is the chief of the SDMA — was busy in his “Maha Janadesh Yatra” and he halted the drive and visited Kolhapur and Sangli only after the media had raised a hue and cry.

People in flood-affected areas are facing shortage of medication, clothes and food, the  application stated.