Maharashtra CM directs junior ministers to visit drought-hit Marathwada
Dissatisfied with relief and rehabilitation minister Eknath Khadse and his ministry over drought relief measures, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed junior ministers to supervise drought-relief measures. Meanwhile, Mr Khadse acknowledged that his officials had failed to furnish facts to Advocate General (AG) Shrihari Aney during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) on Tuesday.
During the state Cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning, guardian minister for Osmanabad Dr Deepak Sawant, guardian minister for Beed Pankaja Munde and senior Shiv Sena minister Diwakar Raote all expressed concern over Mr Khadse’s decision to close fodder camps in Beed, Osmanabad and Latur districts of Marathwada.
Dr Sawant said that at a time when Osmanabad is badly hit by drought, closing of the fodder camp is a completely wrong decision. “I pointed this issue to the CM and Ms Munde along with Mr Raote, who is guardian minister of Aurangabad, and water resources minister Girish Mahajan supported me,” he said. The CM agreed with them and Mr Khadse too clarified in the meeting that not a single fodder camp had been closed, Dr Sawant added.
Another BJP minister said that after the Bombay HC slammed the state government over measures to tackle drought and increasing farmer suicides, the CM instructed all ministers to visit drought-affected villages across Marathwada. “It seems the CM is not satisfied with Mr Khadse and his ministry officials and hence, asked each and every minister to visit Marathwada,” added the minister on the condition of anonymity.
The responsibility of coordination has been assigned to Ms Munde, Dr Sawant and BJP’s Vinod Tawde, he said.
Minister for cooperative, Chandrakant Patil, confirmed that these three junior ministers would coordinate the ministers’ visits to Marathwada. “All ministers will visit drought-affected villages in all eight districts of Marathwada on the same day and will submit their report to the CM,” said Mr Patil.
Mr Patil said that the CM had instructed speaking to villagers about whether they were getting wheat and rice at Rs 3 and Rs 2 per kg, respectively; whether their children were getting benefits of exemption in school fees etc.
The CM had instructed not only taking meetings at district level but even visiting remote villages.
Dr Sawant, however, said that the tour programme would depend upon the schedule of each minister. “I am not sure all ministers will visit on the same day, but we have to finish it before the budget session begins,” he said.
