CM Fadnavis: Govt will eradicate drought in Marathwada

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the government has decided to ensure that the next generation of Marathwada residents would not see drought. The state will do whatever is needed to make drought a thing of the past, he said.

The chief minister paid a visit to a cattle camp, which is being run by Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana along with private organisations including Bajaj Auto at Lasur in Aurangabad, on Saturday.

He also visited drought-affected areas in Aurangabad. Mr Fadnavis said the present generation of Marathwada has seen perennial drought.

In a bid to make Marathwada drought-free, the government is planning to build a grid of 11 main dams which will be connected with pipes, he said.

The water would be supplied for drinking as well as irrigation through the pipe. A tender for the project will be floated in the next two months.

The government also plans to bring in water that flows into the sea into the valley of the Godavari. “If this works out, we can bring in 100 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water and drought in Marathwada will be a thing of the past,” Mr Fadnavis said.

The chief minister also termed the Bajaj cattle camp an ideal cattle camp since it had fencing, fodder arrangements and medical facilities.