Revenue minister hits back at Sharad Pawar over drought allegations

Politics over drought is heating up as revenue minister Chandrakant Patil has thrown a challenge to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar saying he was ready to hold an open discussion with him on the drought issue. Mr Pawar had alleged that state government was not sensitive towards the plight of drought-affected people.

The revenue minister visited the drought-affected parts of Sangola and Mangalvedha in Solapur district. He also took a review of drought mitigation measures by the district administration.

“The government is facing a huge challenged to tackle drought conditions in the state. However, it is not right to say that the government doesn't know anything about drought. It's not correct to politicise drought,” said Mr Patil.

After polling for the Lok Sabha polls was over in the state, Mr Pawar had immediately started the tour of drought-affected areas of Solapur and Osmanabad districts, which are two of the worst drought hit places. The NCP chief also met farmers at their agriculture field and interacted with them. During the tour, he expressed concern by saying that state government's efforts to tackle drought are insufficient.

“I am ready to hold talks with the NCP chief and his activists on the drought issue. Instead of questioning the government on drought, they should start fodder camps at one or two places,” said Mr Patil.

More than half of the state is reeling under severe drought and the state government has declared 141 talukas of the total 355 talukas as a drought prone hit in October last year.

Of these, 112 talukas have a severe drought, whereas 39 has moderate drought. The Centre has recently released another installment of Rs 2,160 crore to Maharashtra for taking drought mitigation measures. The Centre has allotted these funds from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).