Drought-hit Latur region in Marathwada will get water carried through train within the next 15 days, Maharashtra Assembly was informed on Thursday.
Drought-hit Latur region in Marathwada will get water carried through train within the next 15 days, Maharashtra Assembly was informed on Thursday.
“We have made arrangements for supplying water through trains to Latur. The first such train will reach Latur within the next fortnight,” revenue minister Eknath Khadse said, during a discussion on the acute water scarcity in Latur, in the Lower House.
Mr Khadse rejected the claim made by former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan that the BJP-led government in Maharashtra lacks the “political will” to resolve the water crisis in Latur and other parts of Marathwada region.
“We do not want long speeches but a solution. Today, there is no other issue more important than this one,” Mr Chavan said, underlining the gravity of the problem of water scarcity.
“All other business on today’s agenda should be set aside to enable a discussion on the drought situation,” he said.
He further said, “When we (Congress-NCP) were in power, we brought water through a over 100 km long pipeline to Osmanabad. Couldn’t this government undertake a similar project for Latur ”
Responding to Mr Chavan’s attack, Mr Khadse said, “We have the political will and that’s why we are bringing water through Railways Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed me on Wednesday that if needed, water from Telangana would be supplied to us (Maharashtra).
“No matter whatever the cost, we will supply water to these drought-affected areas,” he added.
Meanwhile, while speaking with media persons at Vidhan Bhavan, Mr Khadse said that all necessary arrangements like laying pipe lines, filteration etc. are being done at Miraj and Latur for transport of water to Latur from Miraj.
“Thirty tankers have been cleaned at Kota and expected to come within next three to four days. Water will be offloaded at wells and farm ponds near Latur station and then it will supplied by tankers which will be requisitioned by the Latur collector,” he said.
About 50,000 litre water will be transported to Latur by each train.
