All 15 Chandrapur tehsils drought-hit; Guardian Minister Uike urges joint effort to tackle crisis

Deficient rain and a long break in the monsoon have created drought conditions in the state, and all 15 tehsils of Chandrapur district have been declared drought-hit. The state government stands firmly with farmers in this difficult hour and has taken several policy decisions to deal with the drought. Tribal Development Minister and Chandrapur Guardian Minister Dr Ashok Uike appealed to everyone to fight the drought together by implementing these measures effectively.

Dr Uike was speaking at a meeting on drought relief held at the Planning Bhavan. MP Namdev Kirsan, MLAs Kishor Jorgewar, Deorao Bhongle and Karan Deotale, District Collector Vasumana Pant, Chief Executive Officer Pulkit Singh, Municipal Commissioner Akunuri Naresh and Additional Superintendent of Police Ishwar Katkade were among those present.

The Guardian Minister said the entire administrative machinery should work on alert. There should be no complaint that water supply stopped because of an electricity connection. If the power connection of a water supply scheme is cut, strict action should be taken. Industries' CSR funds should be used to ease the water shortage. As the state government has issued directions for water cuts, the water supplied to industries should be reduced by 10 per cent starting today.

He said the municipal corporation should also plan properly from now so that people get drinking water until June-July. If micro-finance companies harass farmers to recover loans during the drought, strict action should be taken against them. On issues such as a possible water shortage and fodder for livestock, all departments should plan carefully and work in coordination to give people relief. The MP and the MLAs also gave suggestions.

In a presentation, District Collector Vasumana Pant said the drought has affected a total of 3.72 lakh hectares in the district. A proposal of Rs 316.95 crore has been sent to the government. Ahead of Diwali, distribution of an advance of Rs 5,000 to affected farmers is under way on a war footing. This year, 56,988 farmers in the 15 tehsils have been given a land revenue waiver of Rs 2,43,670. The process of converting farmers' current crop loans into easy instalments is continuing. Recovery of all agriculture-related loans has been halted in the district.

A concession has been applied to the current electricity bills of agricultural pumps. In the tehsils where scarcity has been declared, directions have been issued not to cut power to agricultural pumps. New water conservation works have been taken up immediately to raise the groundwater level. Plans for fodder camps for livestock are being made and steps are being taken to keep fodder available. Work is being provided under the employment guarantee scheme to stop the migration of labourers.