MUMBAI: All Opposition parties met Maharashtra Governor S.M. Krishna on Tuesday to demand a special session of the Legislature to discuss the aftermath of the flood in Mumbai and elsewhere in the State.

Mr. Krishna said he would look into their demand. Later addressing the press, Bharatiya Janata Party leaderGopinath Munde said it was a month since the floods and that though the Government had enough time to react, it had failed in its duty. About 5 lakh hectares in the State were affected by floods, but not a single farmer was compensated. Those whose houses have been damaged are still yet to get compensation, he said.

Mr. Munde said the session would not discuss anything other than the floods, not even the issue of the Leader of the Opposition post, which is vacant after Narayan Rane quit. He said over 200 persons were killed in the epidemic that followed the floods, but the Government had still not held anyone responsible for it.

Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam also criticised the Government and said it had done nothing for victims. The State had not had such a disastrous situation in 100 years, he added. Members of the BJP, the Sena, Swatantra Bharat Party, the Peasants and Workers Party and independent members met Mr. Krishna and submitted a memorandum detailing the grave situation in the State. They said that at least Rs. 15,000 crores was required from the Centre to restore the State's economy. They said the floods were worse than the drought of 1972 and the 1992 earthquake at Latur. The State administration lacked a sense of responsibility and failed to gauge the gravity of the situation. It also delayed relief and announced a two-day holiday on July 27 and 28.

Mr. Munde said the Governor had the power to make inquiries into the State's lapses and send a report to the Centre. The delegation drew Mr. Krishna's attention to seven lapses on the Government's part.

It said he should examine the need for a two-day holiday after the floods, whether the State had a disaster management plan, the causes for the epidemic, whether the Alamatti dam was responsible for floods and if the State had a rehabilitation plan for the victims.

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