Drought declared in all 15 Chandrapur tehsils; Guardian Minister Uike directs relief steps

Every one of Chandrapur district's 15 tehsils has now been declared drought-hit after poor rainfall. Guardian Minister Dr Ashok Uike, who also holds the state's Tribal Development portfolio, gave the administration a string of instructions at a drought review meeting held at the Planning Bhavan.

Dr Uike said a weak monsoon and a prolonged break in the rains have brought drought-like conditions to large parts of Maharashtra. The state government, he said, is firmly behind farmers in this hard time and has taken several policy decisions to meet the situation. He asked all concerned to carry these out effectively and to face the crisis as a team.

The meeting was attended by MP Namdev Kirsan and legislators Kishor Jorgewar, Deorao Bhongle and Karan Deotale. Among the officials present were Collector Vasumana Pant and Zilla Parishad chief executive Pulkit Singh. Municipal Commissioner Akunuri Naresh and Additional Superintendent of Police Ishwar Katkade also took part. The Guardian Minister told the whole administrative machinery to remain on alert and to work in "alert mode".

On drinking water, Dr Uike said no one should be able to complain that a supply stopped because a power connection was missing or because of a technical fault. If the electricity connection of any water supply scheme is disconnected, he warned, the people responsible will face strict action. He also wanted industries to spend their CSR money first on easing the shortage. In line with the state's directions on water cuts, the quota for industries is to be reduced by 10 per cent from the day of the meeting.

The municipal corporation, he added, must draw up a firm plan right away so that residents receive uninterrupted drinking water until June-July. He cautioned micro-finance companies against pressing farmers for repayment during the drought, saying action would be taken against any lender that does so. All departments were asked to coordinate and plan with care for a likely water shortage and for cattle fodder. The MP and the legislators who attended also put forward their own suggestions on relief.

In a presentation, the Collector said the drought has hit a total of 3.72 lakh hectares in the district. A proposal seeking Rs 316.95 crore has been sent to the state government. With Diwali near, an advance of Rs 5,000 for each affected farmer is being handed out on a war footing.

She said 56,988 farmers across the 15 tehsils have been given land revenue relief amounting to Rs 2,43,670 this year. Work is continuing to convert farmers' existing crop loans into easy instalments, and recovery of every farm-linked loan in the district has been put on hold for now.

Current electricity bills for agricultural pumps carry a concession. In tehsils where scarcity has been declared, clear orders are in place that power to farm pumps must not be cut under any circumstances.

The Collector further said new water conservation works have been started at once to lift groundwater levels. Fodder camps for livestock are being planned, and efforts are on to keep fodder available. To stop labourers from leaving their villages in search of work, jobs are being offered under the Employment Guarantee Scheme.