Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' home city of Nagpur was a temperamental host to the state assembly's monsoon session again on Friday. Three hours of rain brought proceedings to a halt and also resulted in power outage. Coincidentally, work at the last state legislative session, held 57 years ago in 1961, was also adjourned for the day by power failure.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' home city of Nagpur was a temperamental host to the state assembly's monsoon session again on Friday. Three hours of rain brought proceedings to a halt and also resulted in power outage. Coincidentally, work at the last state legislative session, held 57 years ago in 1961, was also adjourned for the day by power failure.
Most of the city was submerged after rainfall measuring 160mm and water level reached to the knees at Vidhan Bhavan. As the water flooded the electricity room, there was a power outage, plunging the assembly hall, cabins and offices.
Proceedings began at 10 am, but the Speaker Haribhau Bagade immediately adjourned the House for one hour amid the pandemonium. Wasting no time, opposition parties shamed the BJP-led state government over the forced adjournment.
"The government has been exposed by the rains in Nagpur," said Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, "They could not even handle three hours of rain, how will they handle the entire state?"
Even BJP's ally in the government, Shiv Sena jumped to its feet to target Nagpur Municipal Corporation, ruled by BJP, over the state of affairs in the Orange city.
"Had this happened in Mumbai," retorted Shiv Sena MLA and former Mumbai mayor Sunil Prabhu, "BJP legislators would have targeted Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (ruled by Shiv Sena). They would have demanded an inquiry. Why not conduct an inquiry into the Nagpur Municipal Corporation?".
Amid the chaos, the Speaker and state Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bavankule went to investigate the cause behind the power outage and found that clogged drains had caused flooding of the panel room. An emergency clean-up revealed that beer bottles were among the things choking the drains. Bavankule clarified later that power supply was disconnected as a precautionary measure.
Leaders from all parties met at the Speaker's chamber and it was decided to adjourn the House for the entire day.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Nagpur")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}