Drought relief won't affect MCC: Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that water supply schemes of the drought-affected areas, approval of tankers, setting up new fodder camps, providing employment under EGS would not affect the model code of conduct (MCC), hence the administration should not stall any projects under the garb of MCC.

Mr Fadnavis on Thursday directed that the administration should give approval to these proposals immediately. There will be no paucity of funds for such works, he said. Mr Fadnavis took a review of three drought-hit districts including Osmanabad, Parbhani and Beed at his official residence Varsha. He held talks with more than 100 Sarpanchs of the drought-affected districts.

CM said that the population figures of 2018 should be taken as base figures while arranging water supply through tankers. Same parameter should be applied to supplying water to animals.

He also said that fodder camps should be started wherever necessary considering the animal population in the district. Where there is no fodder camp in the vicinity of a village, water supply through the tankers should be increased.

The sarpanchs of Osmanabad district complained about discontinuing the water supply schemes owing to its repair on which Mr Fadnavis directed the officers to take steps to revive these schemes as the special provision for such works is already done.

He also directed the Gat Vikas Adhikaris to start EGS works Osmanabad district’s sarpanchs complaints.

He directed to supply water to villages as per the population of 2018. He spoke with 32 sarapanchs of Osmanabad district. He also had dialogue with around 50 sarpanchs of Beed district in the review meeting. The sarpanchs have demanded additional tankers, rep-airing of wells, water tanks, ponds, fodder camps and EGS works among other things. The CM directed to the collector, tahsildar, Gat Vikas Adhikari and Zila Parishad CEO to take immediate action on this and submit the compliance report.