Nanded drought trigger row: Ashok Chavan defends leaving out two talukas

Politics has heated up over drought conditions in Maharashtra after two tehsils in Nanded district were left out of the Trigger-1 list. Of the district's 16 tehsils, Trigger-1 has been applied in 14, but Mukhed and Mudkhed are not on the list. On the issue, MP Ashok Chavan said no tehsil in Marathwada would be allowed to face injustice.

Trigger-1 is the first step in the process of declaring drought. It is applied based on parameters such as rainfall deficiency and long gaps between spells of rain. After that, factors like soil moisture, crop condition and other effects are examined under Trigger-2.

Ashok Chavan said on the matter, "No tehsil has been deliberately left out. Two tehsils in Marathwada did not fit the Trigger-1 parameters. But in October, soil moisture and crop condition will be checked through Trigger-2. Tehsils left out of Trigger-1 will certainly be included in Trigger-2."

Chavan also responded to criticism from the Congress party over the exclusion of the two tehsils, saying drought is not decided by looking at party lines. He said MLA Shrijaya Chavan has spoken with Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and he himself has spoken with the Chief Minister.

"I will not let injustice happen to any tehsil in Marathwada, that is my promise," Ashok Chavan said. He also clarified his position on visits to drought-hit areas, saying that even if crops in an area appear green, what matters more is how much yield they will actually give. Rain not arriving at the right time affects crop output, he said, which is why visits are being made to understand farmers' difficulties.

Chavan said an assessment is under way on when farmers will actually receive help. A cabinet sub-committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Revenue Minister, and the extent of the drought and the funds required will be decided once reports from all district collectors are in.

He also said the state government has recently announced a loan waiver. Ashok Chavan did not give any firm timeline on whether farmers would get help before Diwali, saying this is a difficult time and farmers are facing drought conditions.