‘CM’s Jalyukt Shivar not a success yet’

Yogendra Yadav, the leader of Swaraj Abhiyan, speaks to the media on the state government’s handling of issues related to drought, at the press club on Saturday. (Photo: Shripad Naik)

Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav attacked the state government on Saturday and said that the government is not serious towards tackling drought conditions. Mr Yadav also said that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s pet project Jalyukt-Shivar Abhiyan has not yielded any results yet.

Taking a dig at the chief minister, Mr Yadav said, “At present, people residing in the cities are facing problems even for drinking water. Had the chief minister taken into consideration the suggestions given by Swaraj Abhiyan, the picture in the state could have been different today.”

Mr Yadav claimed that after conducting ‘Samvedna Yatra’ where members from the Swaraj Abhiyan visited drought-hit states like Maharashtra, Telangana, Karanataka, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh he had written letters to all the respective chief minster’s suggesting measures to tackle drought in their states.

“I had, in the detailed letter written to Mr Fadnavis, suggested emergency short term and long term measures to tackle the water crisis in the state. The state should have temporarily banned usage of water for irrigating sugar cane crop in areas of acute drinking water shortage,” said Mr Yadav. He also added, “It should have stopped re-opening sugar cane factories till the drought situations is persistent and it should also stop unauthorised diversion of water for industries and for the process of bottling.”

In order to understand the problems of the farmers of the state, members from Swaraj Abhiyan visited various villages and districts of the state and met affected farmers and families and interacted with representatives of farmers’ organisations.

“Given our expectations with the Maharashtra government, what we saw was disappointing. We came across widespread misery, anxiety and despair. Most farmers have lost their kharif crop and most find it virtually impossible to access institutional loans from nationalised banks and end up taking money from private lenders who charge exorbitant rates of interest,” added Mr Yadav.

The leader of Swaraj Abhiyan also said that government should waive off loans of farmers, partially if not fully, like how it does for industrialists. It must formulate an integrated state water plan and no new irrigation project must be sanctioned till that is in place, he added.