Nashik, Oct 11 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said conservation of water and desilting of lakes should be prioritised to tackle drought.
He called for joint efforts by people’s representatives, administration and villagers to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development of rural areas under the Mukhyamantri Samruddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan 2.0.
“People’s representatives, administration, and villagers should work together to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development of rural areas. To overcome this year’s drought situation, priority should be given to saving every drop of water, removing silt from lakes, repairing dams and water conservation works under ‘Mukhyamantri Samruddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan 2.0’,” Fadnavis said.
He addressed the ‘Lok Prathanidhicha Mahakumbh’ organised by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, the award distribution ceremony under the Mukhyamantri Samruddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan 2025-26, the launch of the campaign 2026-27 and the ‘Sarpanch Dialogue -Overcoming Drought and the Resolution of a Water Prosperous Village’ programme.
“Mukhyamantri Samruddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan is an important campaign to accelerate the development of villages by promoting the collective power of rural areas. Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan has proven that if public representatives, officials and villagers work together, positive changes can be brought about in rural areas,” he added.
He said due to the campaign, roads, toilets, CCTV systems, water supply and other basic facilities have improved in villages.
Fadnavis said that he will visit the final 12 Gram Panchayats, including the award-winning ones, and inspect the development works there.
The Chief Minister said the government has initiated 12 types of measures in the drought-affected talukas.
“The government will make every effort to deal with the drought situation in the coming days, and decisions will be taken beyond the norms as per the need while providing assistance to the farmers,” he added.
He said water conservation work will be undertaken by converging various schemes through the VB-G RAM G scheme.
“This will not only increase water storage but will also help in providing employment to labourers in rural areas. The government will also plan to increase the availability of fodder so that farmers do not have to sell their livestock during drought,” the chief minister said.
He said the government will ensure that no citizen goes hungry during the drought.
“The benefits of various government schemes will be extended to farmers, including providing essential food grains to eligible ration card holders. The role of the government is to help farmers, support the rural economy and stand by the citizens in times of crisis,” said Fadnavis.
In the second phase of the Mukhyamantri Samriddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan, special emphasis will be given to drought relief and drought prevention measures, he said.
Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore said that if the villages become prosperous, it will provide great support to realise the dream of a developed India.
In the first phase of the Chief Minister’s Samriddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan, 5,644 gram panchayats in the state participated.
“Through the campaign, 69.13 lakh Ayushman cards were prepared. Benefits of houses, assistance to disabled beneficiaries, CCTV systems, roads, toilets, gyms and water recharge works were done through the convergence of various schemes,” he said.
Gore said the work of 2,706 kilometres of roads has been completed in Maharashtra, and emphasis was also placed on the use of solar energy, collection of house rent and water rent and increasing the efficiency of gram panchayats.
He said the second phase of the campaign will also be implemented more effectively to empower villages and make them self-sufficient and prosperous.
On the occasion, Fadnavis felicitated the office-bearers of Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis and Gram Panchayats who performed excellently under the campaign 2025-26.
In the Zilla Parishad group, Nashik, Pune and Sangli were felicitated with the first, second and third awards, respectively; while in the Panchayat Samiti group, Nashik, Khalapur (District Raigad) and Rahata (District Ahilyanagar) were conferred with the first, second and third awards. PTI COR NSK
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