Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Khadse differ over fodder camps

The differences between chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior BJP minister Eknath Khadse came to light once again when the latter announced that the fodder camp in drought-affected Marathwada region would be closed claiming that farmers were taking away their cattle from the camp. However, Mr Fadnavis directed the Cabinet sub-committee headed by Mr Khadse to reconsider the decision.

Mr Khadse on Tuesday took the decision to close fodder camps at Beed, Latur and Osmanabad in Marathwada region. He said, “At present, the cattle fodder camps are temporarily shut down. Cattle fodder is available. If there is a demand to reopen cattle fodder camps we shall reopen them.” He added that many farmers were taking away their cattle from the fodder camps and hence the camps had been temporarily closed.

Reacting to this, the CM stated that he had apprised Mr Khadse that the Cabinet sub-committee he heads should reconsider the decision to shut down the cattle fodder camps. “I have apprised him (Khadse) of the feelings of the legislators and ministers. At present cattle fodder is available in abundance. However, the locals are in favour of the camps being kept open,” said Mr Fadnavis.

Meanwhile, a senior BJP state leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the fodder camps are often run by local musclemen who eye the government subsidy. Speaking to newspersons, he said exorbitant input costs required to set up the camps deters farmers from setting up one of their own. Besides this, as per government norms a minimum of 250 cattle have to be present at the camp during the inspection. However, the farmers take back their cattle home in the evening as they are unwilling to stay back.

“The local musclemen have a tacit pact with the village sarpanch who manipulate the subsidy and records pocketing part of subsidy,” the BJP leader said. He said that even cattle manure is traded. Moreover, the cattle fodder camps are located far off from the villages. It is only cattle fodder camps run by communities like Jains and voluntary organisations that operate smoothly, he said.