Nagpur: Maharashtra compensated Rs19,637 crore to victims of climate change-related incidents in the last six years across 35 districts. Nanded, Beed, Jalna, Aurangabad, Nashik and Sangli districts were the most impacted by extreme weather events including floods and cyclones.
This data on the financial impact of climate change was presented to the state legislature on Friday, along with state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray recommending what each elected representative should do in their constituency.
The data, which has not incorporated compensation paid due to droughts, revealed that over Rs1,000 crore in compensation was given for Nanded, Beed, Jalna, Aurangabad, Nashik, and Sangli districts which were the most hit by harsh weather events. “Due to the cumulative impacts of climate change, north-central Maharashtra and Marathwada were the worst-affected areas in the state,” stated a press release by the state.
During presentation of the data, it also came to the fore that between 2016 and 2021, the state paid Rs8,126.96 crore towards damages caused by untimely rains, hailstorms and stormy winds, and Rs4,126.04 crore to compensate for excessive rains and floods.
“In addition, Rs3,992.7 crore was spent due to heavy rains alone, while Rs769.85 crore was spent on flood damage mitigation. Finally, during the course of six years, Rs2,666.47 crores were paid specifically for damages caused by cyclonic storms in Maharashtra,” the release stated, adding that natural catastrophes including cyclones, intense and unexpected rains, floods and hailstorms caused massive environmental, social and economical damage in Maharashtra.
Analysis further revealed that Sangli, Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Solapur and Raigad districts have been the worst hit by climate change in the last six years. “Despite the fact that cyclone Nisarga passed through the city in 2020 and hurricane Tauktae caused wind gusts of more than 120 km/h in the city earlier this year, the state capital Mumbai received the smallest amount of compensation, totalling Rs10.37 crore over six years,” it added.
Nagpur received a compensation of about Rs390 crore between 2016-2021 due of untimely rains, hailstorms and stormy winds while Pune received Rs254 crore for similar weather events.
The state government has announced that 43 AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) cities and urban clusters from the state will join in the global ‘Race to Zero’ campaign, which aims to prevent future climate threats, create jobs and unlock equitable, sustainable growth.
“Today marks the beginning of elected representatives of the Maharashtra legislature taking the lead on climate action. It was our honour to present to the elected members of the Assembly and Council the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, impacts of climate change on Maharashtra, and climate action by the Government,” said Thackeray.
HEAVY BURDEN
– Nanded, Beed, Jalna, Aurangabad, Nashik and Sangli districts most impacted by extreme weather events
– Sangli, Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Solapur and Raigad districts worst hit by climate change in last 6 years
– Nagpur received a compensation of about Rs390 crore between 2016-2021 due of untimely rains, hailstorms and stormy winds
– North-central Maharashtra and Marathwada were the worst-affected areas in the state
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