Beed drought deepens, 225 tankers running; Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar issues key directions

Drought conditions in Beed district have become very serious because of a long break in the rains. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar reviewed the situation and the administration's measures in full at the District Collector's office on Saturday, October 17.

MLA Prakash Solunke, MLA Dhananjay Munde, District Collector Vivek Johnson, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Jitin Rahman, Superintendent of Police Navneet Kanwat, Resident Deputy Collector Shivkumar Swami, District Superintendent Agriculture Officer Subhash Salve and District Planning Officer Sheela Misal were present at the meeting. Senior officials of all the departments concerned also attended.

With no rain, the crops that had reached farmers' hands have withered. Drinking water and fodder for animals have become a very serious problem. The administration was therefore directed to complete panchnamas of crop damage immediately. Most of the panchnamas are close to completion. Officials were told to speed up further action as per rules as soon as the reports are received. Agriculture and revenue officials were also directed to ensure complete transparency and accuracy in the crop insurance process.

Guardian Minister Sunetra Pawar appealed to people to avoid unnecessary expenditure during the drought and scarcity. She asked them to avoid spending on weddings and birthdays and to organise mass marriage ceremonies.

Drinking water has been given top priority. The water tankers now running were ordered to be monitored through a GPS system. Water is currently being supplied by 225 tankers in the district. It was stated clearly that drinking water must not be used for construction work under any circumstances and that water must be spent very sparingly. The Deputy Chief Minister also directed that water conservation work such as recharging water sources, deepening rivers and streams, desilting and repairing wells be started immediately.

The administration was asked to start preparations for the fodder problem now, ahead of time. The meeting said farmers should be trained in producing silage, hydroponic and azolla fodder. Employment guarantee work under the VB-G RAM G scheme should be run effectively by linking it with water conservation, so that farmers and labourers in villages get assured work locally and do not have to migrate.

Given the seriousness of the situation, officers and employees of all departments were told to stay at their headquarters and help people in every possible way. They were also asked to increase their interaction with farmers, counsel them and give them emotional support. The review meeting also stressed that an effective plan should be made, with water, fodder and employment tackled in coordination, to give people relief soon. It was said that the government and administration stand firmly with people in the growing drought crisis and that all measures are under way on a war footing.

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar also said the state government is taking measures at every level to bring farmers safely out of this natural crisis and to help them recover quickly, and that the administration is working with full strength.