NCP chief and former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Monday said this year’s drought, looming over Marathawada, western Maharashtra and some part of northern Maharashtra, is “unprecedented in enormity”
NCP chief and former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Monday said this year’s drought, looming over Marathawada, western Maharashtra and some part of northern Maharashtra, is “unprecedented in enormity”. A grave “no drop for crop’ condition may prevail from December, he feared.
Mr Pawar, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard, said “During the span of almost 50 years of my political career, I have seen and tackled many droughts and other natural calamities, but this year’s drought looming over Marathawada, western Maharashtra and some part of northern Maharashtra is unprecedented in enormity. The worst drought condition beckons Maharashtra as each day progresses and all hopes are focused on returning monsoon,” he said.
Kharif crops either have been lost or withered and farmers are looking for the government support, fearing severe financial crisis, he said, adding that the drought poses great threat to livestock and the survival of livestock from December onwards would be a big question.
The state government had recently issued a “government resolution” for opening of cattle camps in Beed, Osmanabad and Latur districts of Marathawada region. “I think the state government is not aware of the drought,” Mr Pawar said while drawing attention to how such camps should be opened up in Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Ahme-dnagar and Nashik districts.
Fearing that Auranga-bad, Jalna, Beed, Parbh-ani, Hingoli, Nanded and Latur would face serious water crisis as water levels in Jayaka-wadi Dam (5.40 per cent) and Yeldari (3.14), Vishnupuri (11.70), Majalgaon (0 percent) are depleting, he said Latur is the worst hit.
The former Union agriculture minister suggested water in these reservoirs and in Ujnai should be reserved “exclusively for drinking purpose, crop panchanamas( inspections) of standing kharif crops, sugar cane, other irrigated crops and fruit crops should be undertaken immediately”.
Grown-up sugarcane should be taken up for crushing in sugar factories as such sugarcane could perish. This would help farmers in distress. Diversion of sugarcane crop as fodder for cattle would help survival of the livestock.
Water conservation works should be taken up in drought-hit areas under the NREGA. Electricity bills and other dues should be waived off as a relief measure to the people. “During my tours to the drought-hit regions, I was told that many regional water supply schemes and lift irrigation schemes are not operational due to pending heavy arrears of electricity. But it would aggravate the problem, the state government must bear the burden of electricity bills and make these schemes operational,” he suggested.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured all possible help to the drought-hit areas of Maharashtra and cope with severe water and fodder shortages in parts of Marathwada and western Maharashtra.He gave the assurance to Mr Pawar when he apprised him about the gravity of the scarcity situation in parts of the state.
Mr Pawar, who has been spearheading the agitation for a better deal to people in the state facing the drought, later told reporters that the Prime Minister told him that all possible efforts will be ade to provide succour. Mr Pawar had recently met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on the issue.
Mr Pawar’s meeting with Mr Modi came on a day when the NCP leaders took to the streets in Marathwada region protesting the “apathetic” attitude of the BJP-led government to the plight of farmers.
