SENIOR BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday defended visiting flood-hit areas in Maharashtra, saying it spurs authorities into action, hours after NCP chief Sharad Pawar observed that visits by VIPs to such spots should be avoided as they affect rescue and relief operations. Fadnavis also said he will visit more such areas in the coming days. Union Minister Narayan Rane, Fadnavis, and Opposition leader in Legislative council Pravin Darekar recently visited Taliye village in the worst-hit Raigad district where a massive landslide claimed 84 lives.

 

While 53 bodies were recovered from the spot, the Raigad district administration on Monday called off the search operations for 31 missing people who will be declared dead. Fadnavis, who is Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, said the local administration ‘woke up’ due to his visit. “When we visit the affected areas, the local administration wakes up and starts working. Hence our visit is necessary. The only message one can take from Pawar’s statement is that tours can be conducted without adding any burden on the local administration,” Fadnavis said.