If situation doesn’t improve then there is a possibility of deterioration of law and order in the state says Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil.
Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil criticised the Maharashtra government’s decision to impose section 144 in Latur and Parbhani. Patil said that at a time when several regions of the state is witnessing severe drought the state government has barred the assembly of five or more persons near water supply spots in these districts. Instead of resolving the water scarcity issue the government is only imposing restrictions on the movement of people said Patil.
He said, “Maharashtra has been reeling under severe drought since last four years but the BJP government is least bothered about addressing this issue. If situation doesn’t improve then there is a possibility of deterioration of law and order in the state and we will witness water riots in the state. We have already been urging the government to undertake drought relief work but they are focussed about discussing irrelevant issues in the house. Farmers are committing suicide due to the lackadaisical attitude of the government.”
The government has been announcing about supplying water to the drought hit areas of the state since last six to seven months. Even though the BJP is in power in the centre and state we are yet to see water being supplied to Marathwada region through railways.
On 17th August, 2015 Maharashtra water supply minister Babanrao Lonikar had forwarded a proposal to the centre for supplying water to Osmanabad and Latur through the assistance of railways. Subsequently Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had tweeted that railways will transport water to these districts.
“On 22nd March 2016 Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse had announced that water from Ujjani dam near Pandharpur will be transported to Latur through railways. For how long will the state government continue to make announcements without implementing them?” asked Patil.
Already people have stand in queues for hours for filling water in Latur. People even fight with each other while filling water. Despite this the government has failed to resolve the water scarcity issue.
The Congress had asked the government waive loans of farmers but they have not taken any action in this regard. Instead of undertaking drought relief measures the government is involved in a debate over the chanting of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ slogan in the house.
On the other hand, Eknath Khadse Agriculture Minister said the government will be taking steps to address the water scarcity issue. He said, “Railways will be working on a plan to transport water from Miraj to Latur. The state government has urged the Railways to either reduce the transportation cost or transport it for free as a humanitarian cause.”
Maharashtra is known for agrarian crisis and rising number of farmer suicides in the country. Already 90,000 farmers have been affected due to the drought and crop failure.
