Deulgaon Raja braces for water and fodder shortage, MLA Manoj Kayande directs administration to act

A serious shortage of water and fodder is feared in Deulgaon Raja tehsil in the coming days. Rain has been lower this year because of El Nino. Against this backdrop, Manoj Kayande, MLA from the Sindkhed Raja assembly constituency, told the administration to begin remedial measures now. He gave the directions at a review meeting on the fodder and water shortage held at Venkatesh College in Deulgaon Raja.

Those present included Prof Sanjay Khadse, sub-divisional revenue officer of Sindkhed Raja; Vaishali Dongarjal, tehsildar of Deulgaon Raja; block development officer Mukesh Mahor; naib tehsildar Sayli Jadhav; block education officer Shrikrishna Sapkal; Dadarao Masudwal; and Nagare of Mahavitaran. Officials of the water conservation, water supply and agriculture departments also attended. Village development officers (gram sevaks) and patwaris from the tehsil were present in large numbers.

The meeting was told that dams hold less water this time than last year. The water level in wells and borewells has also dropped. As a result, tankers may have to supply water to many villages from February-March itself. The question of fodder for livestock has also become serious.

Kayande said an action plan for the water shortage in all villages of the tehsil should be drawn up immediately. Fodder and water should be stored. Sites should be identified for starting fodder depots and fodder camps. A fodder control order should be enforced to stop illegal transport and hoarding of fodder. Wells should be acquired for drinking water and tanker arrangements made.

He also said the large-scale clandestine drawing of water from the Khadakpurna project should be stopped immediately and illegally installed electric pumps shut down. The administration needs to be alert from now so that farmers and ordinary people do not have to search for water and fodder, and no crisis confronts farmers.

On the acquisition of private wells, Kayande said that, in view of the likely drinking water shortage this year, private wells in Sindkhed Raja and Deulgaon Raja tehsils that hold water will also be acquired for drinking water.