State did no home-work, Pawar has no powers: Munde on drought

"Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said the report submitted by Maharashtra government on drought does not fit into the current norms. Therefore, you cannot declare drought in 122 talukas," Munde said here.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and other senior ministers approached the Centre without home-work, he said. "They returned empty-handed.... They were ill-prepared and had not done any home-work."

Sharad Pawar, who heads Empowered Group of Ministers on drought, had said, that he would send Rs 600 crore as immediate relief to the state, but no funds came, Munde alleged. "It only shows that Pawar has been given a status, but not the authority."

Munde, a former Deputy Chief Minister, said the state government should convene a cabinet meeting to decide measures to tackle drought in Marathwada.

"Politics shouldn't take centre-stage during a drought. The talukas facing severe drought must be declared drought-affected," he said.