Mungantiwar meets Chandrapur Collector with farmers' delegation, seeks drought relief measures

Chandrapur: Farmers look to the sky, crops dry up without water, cattle wander in search of fodder and people go from place to place for drinking water. The drought is not confined to farming; it has become a challenge to the very survival of village life. At such a time, farmers need concrete measures that reach their fields, not promises. With this in view, MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar met Chandrapur Collector Vasumana Pant with a delegation of farmers.

The meeting discussed in detail water conservation, sustainable irrigation, reviving wells, uninterrupted power supply, fodder and water for cattle, and proper use of government funds. Mungantiwar placed a broad set of measures before the administration. He said special attention must be given to three things: water conservation, private water management and irrigation. He also spoke of a long-term plan so that villages in the Ballarpur Assembly constituency do not have to search for water even if the drought worsens. Given the situation in the district, he demanded that 50 per cent of the District Mineral Development Fund be spent on drought relief work.

According to Mungantiwar, it is necessary to clean and revive closed wells, check the present condition of wells and borewells, carry out rainwater harvesting around wells, and try to raise groundwater levels through MGNREGA and the Employment Guarantee Scheme. He also stressed stopping rainwater and letting it percolate into the ground, protecting existing water sources and ensuring strict, proper use of water.

He also demanded sustainable irrigation facilities for farmers in Mul, Pombhurna, Ballarpur and Chandrapur talukas. He said that during a drought, water for the field is not just a question of yield but a need tied to the livelihood of the farmer's family, and so the administration should put irrigation first.

Aware of the condition of village water supply schemes and their problems, Mungantiwar said the Jal Jeevan Mission works need a full review. He said that the district has a total of 1,302 schemes under the mission, of which 650 are operational. He suggested that full details of the present condition, unfinished work, technical problems and funds required for all water supply schemes in the Ballarpur Assembly constituency be presented within four days. He stressed that no scheme should stay shut for technical reasons. He also said action would be taken to get the government to provide the funds needed to complete the schemes.

Demanding that the cut power connections of regional water supply schemes be restored immediately, he said that in view of the drought, time should be given until the drought ends to pay old and outstanding electricity bills. He also said that the state Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Gulabrao Patil, would be called to review the Zilla Parishad water supply schemes. He hopes the administration will coordinate between departments and play an active role in giving people relief.

Mungantiwar suggested a separate action plan for every village to tackle the drought, including farm roads, water conservation, stopping rainwater and letting it percolate, and preparing land for growing fodder. Troughs, tanks and solar pumps should be installed for animals' drinking water. For fodder, the Forest Department and the Animal Husbandry Department should make a plan, and an app or portal should be created to connect people with maize, promoting the maize crop that is ready with less water and in less time.

He also handed the Collector memorandums on various demands. In view of the drought, he demanded 24-hour uninterrupted power for farmers' agricultural pumps. He also drew attention to eligible farmers getting solar agricultural pumps within the stipulated 60 days under the solar agricultural pump scheme. He demanded that seeds of safflower, linseed and mustard, which need less water and less time, be given to farmers from the District Annual Plan. According to him, farmers must get the necessary guidance and help to change their cropping pattern to suit the conditions.

Mungantiwar also demanded compensation for fish seed losses for drought-affected registered fishermen and members of fisheries cooperative societies. He suggested calling a meeting of Forest Department and CAMPA officials to deepen streams and ponds in forest areas, increase water storage and act against illegal sand mining. He congratulated Gondwana University on its decision to waive the fees of farmers' children. Expressing confidence that, though the drought crisis is large, it can be overcome through planning, administrative coordination and public participation, he demanded immediate action on the farmers' concerns.