With polling concluded in Maharashtra, drought which has been intensified in the state is likely to take centre stage in politics.
According to the Hindustan Times, the Maharashtra government has already convened a special cabinet to review the situation. Since October-November, the state declared drought in more than half the villages in 151 tehsils and 318 revenue circles, giving them special relief packages and revenue benefits. Meanwhile, each day is passing by water sources are drying up. The water stock level has dropped to 19.63%, against 32.6% on the same day last year. In Marathwada, the water level in all reservoirs has dropped to 5.27%, from its nine major reservoirs, the water level has dropped to zero in eight, including the largest dam — Jayakwadi.
It’s not just Marathwada, other regions like Amravati (Khadakpurna and Pentakli dams), Nagpur (Gosikhurd and Dina dams), Nashik (Bham and Punegaon dams), Pune (Ghod, Pimpalgaon, JogeTemghar and Bhima dams), too, have also dried up, creating acute water shortage. The state government to deal with the situation has deployed 4,774 water tankers to provide drinking water. Across the state, 1,000 tankers are deployed in Aurangabad alone, followed by Beed with 761 tankers.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has convened a special meeting of state cabinet on Thursday so that the government can go ahead with the relief work. Fadnavis has also written to the Election Commission to relax the model code.
On the other hand, the Opposition has maintained pressure to seek relief for the drought-affected areas. NCP chief Sharad Pawar said Maharashtra was faced with a challenge to overcome crises like drought and unemployment and called for the participation of people to address the concerns. Pawar made these remarks in a tweet, in which he greeted the people on the occasion of Maharashtra Day that also coincides with the International Labour Day.
“Drought is hovering over our Maharashtra at present, the farmer is worried, the youth do not have employment, labourers do not have work to do. We are faced with a challenge to overcome all these crises to maintain the streak of development of our prosperous state. It requires participation from all of us,” Pawar said on Twitter.