Amid continued criticism from the Congress-led Opposition for its “inordinate delay” in reaching relief to the people in the scarcity-hit areas of Maharashtra, the BJP-led saffron alliance Government on Friday declared drought 14,708 villages out of total 43,665 villages in the State.
Unveiling a relief package for the drought-affected people in the identified village Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse said the State Government would give 33.5 per cent concession in electricity bills, fully waive the land revenue, examination fee for the children and provide uninterrupted power supply to the agricultural pumps in the
scarcity-hit areas.
“While implementing the package, we will consider a village as unit. Considering the demands of the affected people, we will soon set up purchase centres for cotton, soyabean, pulses and other grains across the State,” Khadse said.
Khadse said it would reach water in scarcity-prone villages in tankers and take steps not to disconnect agricultural pumps. The State Government has set up a Cabinet Sub-Committee to monitor the drought-relief work across the State.
Attributing the current drought situation in nearby one-third of the villages in the State, Khadse said there was less than 75 per cent of average rainfall in between June and September. He said as many as 14,708 villages accounted for less than 50 per cent of paisevari,
“We have already a sent memorandum to the Centre seeking relief. Our team of officials will meet the Union Agricultural Secretary and make a case for early sanctioning of the relief for the state,” Khadse said.
Meanwhile, leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the State had at long last declared drought in 14,708 villages. “But, we would like to know as to how long it will take for the Government to reach relief to the drought-affected farmers across the State,” Vikhe-Patil said.
“It is unfortunate the State Government has taken such a long time to declare drought in one-third of villages in the State. But, I would like to tell the Government that the declaration of drought should not end up as mere formality. The drought-hit farmers should get relief without any further delay. The State Government should not lose time in issuing the notification extending various reliefs to the drought-hit people in the State,” Vikhe-Patil said.
Echoing similar views, leader of Opposition in the State legislative Council Dhananjay Munde also slammed the Government for its “inordinate delay” in declaring drought in one-third of the total village. “The declaration of drought is nothing but an eyewash and this will not provide any relief to the affected farmers,” Munde said.