Latur, Sep 23 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday described the drought-like situation in Latur and Dharashiv as “extremely serious”, saying the two districts received only around 50 per cent of normal rainfall this year, and assured government’s “all possible assistance” to the affected farmers.
Wiping the tears of farmers was the government’s first duty, Fadnavis said during his visit to areas in Nilanga tehsil of Latur reeling under water shortage and crop losses, and interacted with farmers. He later visited parts of Dharashiv district as well.
“The situation is extremely serious. Latur and Dharashiv are two districts that received only 50 per cent rainfall this year. The rainfall deficit had severely affected crops, particularly soybean,” Fadnavis told reporters, and warned that the shortage of water would also create problems for drinking water and livestock fodder.
“There is distress and anguish among farmers. But I have told them that the government will stand firmly behind them. We will provide all possible assistance. There will be no shortage of funds for drought relief,” he said.
Crop loss surveys were a mere formality and were being conducted as a procedural requirement, though the devastation was already evident, Fadnavis said.
“We have gathered all the reports and are taking action accordingly. The government has taken the drought situation very seriously and has started working. We are going to help the farmers, and our loan waiver scheme is also on and will not be shut. We are arranging water availability and fodder as well,” he said.
Fadnavis said the state government would issue a GR on the drought situation before Saturday and subsequently begin relief measures.
“Wiping the tears of farmers is the government’s first duty. We will certainly seek funds from the Centre under the NDRF norms. However, farmers will not be made to wait until the central funds arrive. The state government will immediately start providing assistance from its own treasury,” he said.
Assistance would be provided to enable farmers to take up the rabi season. The government will make arrangements for drinking water and fodder for animals. We will also ensure effective implementation of farm loan waiver, he said.
The CM said the government would also make efforts to provide direct financial assistance to farmers at the earliest so that they receive immediate relief.
The government had already ordered crop damage assessments, he said, stressing that relief would be provided on a comprehensive basis.
“Under the law, we have to conduct panchnamas (damage assessment reports). But even though panchnamas have to be done, the assistance will be given across the board,” he said.
The CM also addressed complaints concerning the implementation of the farm loan waiver, saying some banks had added additional interest to farmers’ outstanding accounts.
“Some banks indulged in this malpractice. We noticed that they had deliberately added additional interest and sent the accounts with outstanding amounts. Strict instructions have been issued to all of them. They are now removing the additional interest and resubmitting the accounts,” Fadnavis said.
He said once the process was completed, the government would deposit money into the accounts of six to seven lakh farmers.
On the drinking water situation, Fadnavis said the rainfall deficit had severely affected groundwater levels and water bodies.
“If only 50 per cent rainfall is received, there will obviously be an impact on water in reservoirs and wells,” he said.
Fadnavis said the government had anticipated a drinking water crisis and had therefore planned water reserves accordingly.
“We have tried to conserve sufficient water for drinking purposes. We have water required until December, and we have also tried to preserve water up to June. Even then, there will be a drinking water crisis and we are making arrangements for it,” he said.
Fadnavis attributed the severity of the situation to unusual weather conditions, referring to what he described as the impact of ‘Super El Nino’.
“Nature has posed a major challenge before us. But the government will stand completely behind the farmers and deploy all available resources to deal with the situation,” he said.
A distressed farmer in Nilanga broke down while narrating his plight to Fadnavis, prompting the latter to embrace him and offer reassurance.
As the farmer became emotional while describing the damage to his crops and financial difficulties, including gold ornaments he had pledged, Fadnavis hugged and comforted him, assuring him that the government would stand by the cultivators affected by the drought-like situation.
Responding to questions on farmers’ demand for the water grid project, Fadnavis alleged that the MVA government had “dumped” the plan after coming to power.
“Water grid was a very ambitious project. But the Maha Vikas Aghadi government dumped it. The funds given by the Centre under the Jal Jeevan Mission could have been used for the water grid. Instead, they diverted those funds elsewhere,” he said.
Fadnavis stressed that his government’s priority was to bring water to the Marathwada region.
The CM later visited Karajkheda village in Dharashiv to take stock of the ground situation.
”People should have patience and the aid will come to them as early as possible,” he said.
During their interaction with the CM, villagers and farmers in Karajkheda demanded an aid of Rs 1 Lakh per hectare. PTI COR AW GK NP
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