Sharad Pawar begins drought tour in Solapur, announces Rs 50 lakh aid for Tulshi village

Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar began his drought inspection tour in Solapur district. He assessed the drought situation today in Madha taluka, part of the Lok Sabha constituency from which he had contested the Lok Sabha election.

Pawar also visited Tulshi village during the tour. Farmers of the village had put up banners a few days ago saying the village was for sale. Former Union Agriculture Minister Pawar was seen standing on the bunds of the fields and talking directly to farmers.

Pawar recalled that a similar drought had struck in 1972, when he was the guardian minister of Solapur district. He said the government of the time had helped farmers as much as it could. After learning of Tulshi's water shortage, he announced Rs 50 lakh in aid from his own funds.

Pawar handed the cheque for the Rs 50 lakh aid for Solapur's drought to MP Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil.

Pawar also said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes to Baramati, he will give MPs Supriya Sule and Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil time to put the farmers' problems about the state's drought before him. He said he would meet the Chief Minister after completing the drought tour of Marathwada. Pawar said he had already given the Chief Minister in writing, a month ago, the steps that would have to be taken to deal with the drought.

Tulshi village in Madha taluka had drawn attention across the state because villagers put up a poster saying Tulshi village was for sale. They had put it up to draw the government's attention to the severe drought and water shortage, and it conveyed the seriousness of the crisis caused by the lack of water and the drought.

The district collector then came to the village himself and spoke to the villagers. He assured them of all possible help, after which the banner was taken down. Sharad Pawar has now visited Tulshi village himself and spoken to the villagers. Besides offering help from his own side, he assured them that he would also take up the matter with the government.