Sharad Pawar
Months after villagers symbolically put their village up for sale to protest the failure of the long-pending Sina-Madha lift irrigation scheme to provide assured water, former Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar visited drought-hit Tulshi village in Madha tehsil on Sunday and announced financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh for the village’s water conservation efforts. Pawar also handed over a cheque of Rs 50 lakh for our water conservation work.
This is a big relief as we will now be able to expedite the project,” More said. Several villages are already grappling with water scarcity following deficient rainfall and the impact of El Nino. After completing the visits, he would meet the chief minister and the Union ministers concerned to share his observations and suggest measures to support affected farmers. “After visiting the drought-affected farms, Pawar held a meeting with us and discussed the long-pending water issue. He promised to pursue the matter with state govt.
Pune: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said the govt must prioritise the supply of water, fodder and employment while providing relief to drought-hit farmers in Maharashtra . Pawar, who began his tour of drought-affected areas on Sunday, said he would visit villages and interact with farmers in Solapur, Dharashiv and Beed districts to assess the ground situation.
Speaking on the opposition’s protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Pawar said the Centre should have taken a decision on the issue much earlier. “Its failure to do so left the opposition with no option but to stage a protest,” he added.
Referring to the water shortage in urban areas, including Pune, Pawar said the situation was concerning even in Oct, and that water availability would have to be managed until June next year. “The only way to deal with this is to use water judiciously,” he said. The situation needs urgent attention,” Pawar said, adding that there should be no politics over the drought and all political parties should come together to tackle the crisis. Pawar also said his family would not celebrate Diwali this year following the death of Ajit Pawar and in view of the prevailing drought situation in the state.
“Several villages, particularly in Beed, have already started receiving water through tankers.