Drought: Water scarcity works funds to reach districts within 15 days, says Bawankule

The state government has decided to speed up various measures to deal with drought conditions. The drought mitigation sub-committee meeting discussed key issues such as fodder management, water conservation, water supply and employment. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the 2025-26 water scarcity works have been completed and the money for them will be given to the district administrations in the next 15 days.

According to Bawankule, wages for unskilled labourers in Maharashtra are lower than in other states. A committee headed by the Chief Secretary has been formed to raise them, and a government order will be issued soon. He also said work on 75 per cent of the state's tap water supply schemes has been completed. Funds have been arranged to complete the remaining 25 per cent.

For farmers, the government has allowed gram, jowar and maize to be grown on galper lands. Farmers cultivating Devasthan inam lands and tribal forest leases, whose crops are not recorded, will also be given Rs 5,000 in assistance. A separate procedure is being worked out for this. Around 4 to 5 lakh farming families without their names on the Satbara or crop records could benefit.

On fodder, Bawankule clarified that taking fodder out of the state is banned. Fodder may be moved from one district to another within the state. Surplus fodder from Sindhudurg district can be sent to Solapur and Kolhapur districts.

The meeting also took an important decision to make houses built on nazul lands in Gondia city freehold and give owners title. Where conditions have been violated, the land will be transferred to the respective owners on payment of a 2 per cent penalty. The government has also decided to waive stamp duty for the Siddhivinayak temple trust on buying adjoining land. Bawankule said the temple trust has assured help for drought victims.

On complaints about fund distribution within the Mahayuti, he said the coordination committee has already fixed the sharing formula for the BJP, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party. He said a decision on the Mahayuti coordination mahamandal will be taken in the next two months.

On Rahul Gandhi's statement, Bawankule said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge should clarify it. He remarked that the India bloc has already begun looking for reasons for its 2029 defeat.