Latur, Sept 26 With drought being declared in 265 talukas of Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday said the state government must now focus on the implementation of relief measures and ensure that assistance reaches every affected farmer.
Thackeray on Saturday launched his two-day tour of drought-hit areas in the state. He first visited Solapur, followed by Dharashiv and Latur districts. He will also visit Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Jalna and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Speaking to reporters at Khanapur village in Tuljapur tehsil of Dharashiv district after inspecting damaged crops, he said the declaration of drought should have been done earlier by the government.
The state government on Saturday declared 265 of the 358 talukas in the state as drought-affected, announcing relief measures, including restructuring of crop loans, concession in land revenue and deferment of recovery of agriculture-related loans. According to a government resolution (GR) issued late on Friday, this covers 74 per cent of the state.
Most of the drought-affected talukas are in Solapur, Ahilyanagar, Nashik, Latur, Beed, Buldhana, Amravati, Yavatmal, Nagpur and Chandrapur.
“Whether it (declaration of drought) was delayed or when it should have been declared…we had been continuously demanding that drought be declared earlier. Karnataka declared it before Maharashtra,” Thackeray told reporters.
The former state minister, however, said the focus should now shift to implementation of relief measures.
“Now that it has been declared, the government should ensure that every farmer gets whatever assistance is provided under the complete drought relief package,” he said.
He also cautioned that the impact of the prevailing dry conditions would not remain confined to the agricultural sector alone.
“This drought or Super El Nino will not only affect the agriculture sector but urban areas as well. It will affect the entire Maharashtra and the country,” he said.
Thackeray called for coordinated action by the Centre and the states to address the wider impact of the situation.
“The state and the central governments should work together and focus on what plans can be announced for the country,” he said.
In the GR, the government has announced a slew of relief measures, including land revenue concessions, restructuring of crop loans, postponement of recovery of agriculture-related loans and concessions in electricity bills of agricultural pumps.
Interacting with farmers at Khanapur later, Thackeray again said the government must ensure that drought relief actually reaches farmers.
The key question now is what would farmers actually get in their hands after the declaration of drought, he said.
The Sena (UBT) MLA appealed to farmers not to take any extreme step due to the ongoing crisis.
“Please do not even think of doing any to harm yourself. This situation is affecting the entire state and the country. Do not think that you alone are facing it…If banks are troubling you, tell us. We will take up the matter,” he told the farmers.
Thackeray said banks should first understand the ground situation before enforcing their rules.
He said the survival of farmers was crucial for their families as well as people of the state.
“You are the food providers. If you survive, the state will survive. We have to stand firm and face this situation for your children and for this state,” he said.
According to him, the Sena (UBT) and its chief Uddhav Thackeray stood by farmers during crises in the past.
“I have come here not to hold any political meeting but only to meet you. Uddhav saheb has sent me to you. We are here not to do politics on this issue. We want to act as a channel to ensure that whatever help you need reaches you,” he said.
During the interaction, he asked farmers whether they had received compensation for crop damage caused by last year’s heavy rainfall. Farmers told him that despite the completion of ‘panchnamas’ (crop loss assessment), they were yet to get any assistance.
The former minister said the prevailing weather conditions could continue to create uncertainty over the duration and intensity of the drought.
Appealing to all political parties to support farmers, Thackeray said leaders should visit villages and convey a simple message — ‘Don’t be afraid, we are with you’.”
He also cautioned that the crisis could have implications beyond rural areas, saying cities, too, could face drinking-water shortages.
“Do not think that the situation will automatically improve once you come to cities because there is a shortage of drinking water in urban pockets too,” he said.
After Dharashiv, Thackeray visited Latur district. At Tavshi Tad village in Ausa taluka, he met Akhil Bharatiya Chhava Sanghatna state president Vijay Ghadge, who has been observing an indefinite hunger strike in support of farmers’ demands. Thackeray also interacted with farmers.
(PTI News)
