Maharashtra CM promises drought aid for farmers
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the state Government would provide immediate assistance to farmers affected by the current drought-like situation without waiting for central aid.
He also announced the formation of a Cabinet sub-committee to take speedy decisions on relief measures, and stated that a preliminary notification regarding the drought situation will be issued by Saturday.
The sub-committee, headed by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, will have Cabinet powers, Fadnavis said after a State Cabinet meeting.
Several parts of Maharashtra, especially Marathwada and Vidarbha, are passing through long dry spells.
The Opposition has demanded that the Government declare drought immediately and extend relief measures.
The Government has directed officials to start conducting panchnamas (assessment of crop losses) from Wednesday, Fadnavis said.
Soybean, maize and cotton had suffered the most damage, while paddy cultivation in the Konkan region had also been affected, he said.
He would visit areas affected by drought-like conditions from Wednesday and had directed ministers and public representatives to visit affected areas and assess the situation, Fadnavis said.
The State would also send a proposal to the Centre seeking assistance for farmers under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms, he said.
“Special attention will be given to drinking water and fodder for livestock,” the Chief Minister said, adding that planning would be undertaken for the next seven to eight months.
The drinking water supply arrangements would be planned in coordination with municipal corporations, municipalities and other local self-Government bodies, he said.
The sub-committee headed by Bawankule includes Water Resources and Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan, Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Gulabrao Patil, Soil and Water Conservation Minister Sanjay Rathod, Animal Husbandry Minister Pankaja Munde, Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne, Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil and Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Makarand Jadhav Patil, among others.
Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal will be the member-secretary of the panel.
