Press : Shri Rajnath Singh on visit to drought affected areas of central Maharashtra

BJP National President Shri Rajnath Singh reached Aurangabad today on his two day visit to drought affected areas of central Maharashtra. Starting his journey from Aurangabad district Shri Singh met farmers and other locals who apprised him of the worsening drought situation in the region.

Addressing farmers at Chara Chavni and Pimpri Shri Singh said, "Farmers living in drought affected areas facing an acute agrarian crisis. Drought has adversely affected more than 11000 villages of Maharashtra and nearly 50 percent crops in more than 3500 villages have been damaged."

Demanding complete loan waiver to farmers living in drought affected areas the BJP President said the farmers should be given input subsidies,free seeds, subsidised fertiliser and  hundred percent subsidy on drip irrigation system for at least two years. "Farmers should be given fresh agricultural loans at zero percent interest rates and steps should be taken to ensure enough supply of fodder to the livestock", he added.

Calling the drought relief package announced by the Centre inadequate Shri Singh said, "The central government's relief package worth Rs 1200 crore is insufficient because the state government itself demanded nearly Rs 1800 crore for drought relief. The government should increase the amount allocated for drought relief and a central monitoring team should be constituted to keep a vigil on drought relief package implementation."

Blaming the current ruling dispensation in the State for rampant corruption in irrigation projects Shri Singh said, "A scam worth more than Rs 70000 crore was committed in implementing many ambitious irrigation projects and even then only 0.1 percent of irrigated land has been added to the total cropped area of the State in the last ten years."

Expressing  concern over the receding water level in the drought affected areas he said ," Although the state has enacted Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority Act (MWRRA)but it has not been able to prevent widespread diversion of precious water away from common man, farmers and rural poor. There is an urgent need to amend the MWRRAA to prevent the misuse and diversion of water."

"Drought has forced rural poor and farmers out of employment and people are migrating from villages to the cities in large numbers. The government should address this problem by widening the scope of MNREGA and link it with agriculture", he added.

Shri Singh also assured the farmers that the issue of drought in Maharashtra will be raised in both the Houses of Parliament.

(O.P. Kohli)
Headquarter Incharge