Pune: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday announced that he would visit drought-affected areas in Maharashtra’s Solapur and Dharashiv districts over the next two days to assess the situation and ensure that farmers and villagers receive necessary assistance.
Speaking to reporters in Baramati, Pawar said the immediate concerns in the affected regions were drinking water and fodder, and called for coordinated efforts to tackle the crisis.
He said he would visit Pandharpur taluka on Sunday, followed by Solapur and Bhum-Paranda in Dharashiv district on Monday. Local MLAs would accompany him and brief him on the ground situation.
Highlighting the severity of the water shortage, Pawar said 135 tankers were supplying water to 139 villages in Solapur district, while Madha constituency alone required 110 tankers. He said he would meet residents of affected villages to understand their needs and expressed confidence that the state government would extend assistance.
Pawar urged political parties to set aside differences and work together on drought relief. He said discussions had been held with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union ministers on financial assistance for affected farmers.
He also said he would visit the Ujani dam area on Monday to understand farmers’ concerns over an artificial intelligence project and examine whether corrective measures were required.
On water management in Pune, Pawar stressed the need to conserve supplies from dams, including Khadakwasla and Varasgaon, to meet demand until June next year.
He added that the Pawar family would not celebrate Diwali in the usual manner this year, as its focus would remain on drought mitigation.