Fadnavis allows borewell digging in drought-hit orchard areas till December 15, general ban stays

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in Nagpur that a window till December 15 has been given for digging borewells in drought-hit areas where farmers' orchards have suffered heavy losses. According to him, the general ban will continue as before.

Fadnavis said that if orchards are not saved now, the loss will be heavy, because trees take ten to twelve years to bear fruit. For this reason, the restriction on digging borewells will be lifted in areas where it is possible to relax it for some time. He made it clear that the ban will not be lifted entirely, that is, for every place. Digging will be allowed till December 15 where farmers have orchards. He said water has to be supplied till May and the orchards have to be saved, so the permission has been given as a special case.

According to Fadnavis, there is no restriction on flushing. The restriction applies only to deepening, for which permission will have to be taken.

The Chief Minister said he spoke to farmers last night and called the sarpanches of the taluka today for discussions. Issues of village concerns, roads, farming and ponds have come up. Many of them can be resolved, and schemes for some have already been announced. He said all the representations have been received and action will be taken on them. Some good suggestions have also come in and efforts will be made to implement them. Fadnavis said farmers and citizens put forward their questions with deep feeling and everyone was heard. He said he will keep trying to resolve everyone's problems.

Fadnavis thanked Rambhau Balpande and Arunatai Balpande. According to him, the family welcomed him, fed him and gave him a good breakfast, which created a strong sense of belonging. He also became friends with the family's granddaughter Narayani. Fadnavis said this is a farming family that has been badly hit by drought this time. Orange orchards, cotton and soybean have been affected. The family has three account holders in all, and all three have received the benefit of the loan waiver. The family expressed satisfaction and showed the spirit to fight. Fadnavis said the whole family goes on pilgrimages and is deeply devout. He said farmers who revere Vitthal face any hardship. He said he drew confidence from them, learnt a great deal and enjoyed staying there.

Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Fadnavis said Modi had praised him. According to him, Modi treats sections such as women, farmers and the differently abled with great warmth and takes up their questions first. Fadnavis said it is his conduct that inspires all of this work.

On irrigation, Fadnavis said 97 of the stalled irrigation projects have been completed and the remaining projects have also been sanctioned. Where final work remains, projects will be completed by taking a loan of Rs 15,000 crore. According to him, this will greatly benefit the small projects of Vidarbha and Marathwada.

He said the bhajans of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj in Vidarbha and Maharashtra give inner strength and awaken awareness. Tukdoji Maharaj's bhajans show how society can be changed through bhajans. In all the branches of the Jai Gurudev Seva Mandal, everyone was immersed in devotion. According to Fadnavis, this is the real spiritual strength that supports farmers in difficult times.

Fadnavis said farmers near forests are troubled by gaur and buffaloes, and nuisance from other animals is also seen. A solar fencing scheme was introduced, but it is falling short and its scope will have to be expanded. Whether solar fencing can be installed outside forests is under consideration. He said the solar fencing arrangement will have to be implemented.

On drought, Fadnavis said that to win a lasting victory over it, water conservation work will have to be done on one hand and a river-linking project on the other. The Wainganga-Nalganga project will bring ten thousand acres of land in Vidarbha under irrigation. Similarly, a river-linking project is being taken up for Marathwada and North Maharashtra. According to him, this will make a permanent victory over drought possible where drought is perennial.