Congress MLAs: Congress Govt blind to eastern Maha drought

Congress leaders representing Vidarbha and Marathwada regions have accused the state government of concentrating the entire state machinery in western Maharashtra to tackle the drought situation while ignoring concerns in their regions.

Elected members of the Congress have urged chief minister Prithviraj Chavan not to undermine the drought situation in Marathwada and Vidarbha where farmers are burdened with financial debt because of the severe water crisis and failed crops.

A senior Congress MLA said, “The state government, which has shortlisted nine districts for financial aid because of the drought, has completely ignored Vidarbha and Marathwada. Four districts out of the nine are from western Maharashtra. How can Pune district be more drought-prone than Yavatmal, Parbhani and Akola?†A Congress official added, “NCP chief Sharad Pawar is trying to extract more funds for the western Maharashtra region which is NCP’s mainstay. No specific criteria are being used to describe a district as drought-hit.â€

BJP MLA Devendra Fadnavis said, “The state government owes an explanation as to why the state is reeling from a drought situation if Rs50,000 crore has alreadybeen invested in various irrigation projects in the last five years. Western Maharashtra extracted the maximum amount of funds from the irrigation department and yet the severity of drought has multiplied.â€

An official in the government who did not wish to be named said, “The area covered under irrigation in the state does not exceed 18%. This is far below the national average of 40% irrigated land.â€

The ongoing war between the Congress and NCP over water funds has upset elected members of the ruling parties. Some MPs and MLAs have complained to All India Congress Committee (AICC) functionaries about the dirty politics being played in the state. A Union minister (Congress) said, “The people in the state are not going to forgive us for drought politics. Both the Congress and NCP should have worked together to tackle the crisis.â€

However, still intent on scoring brownie points, political managers in Congress have pitted AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi to visit Satara district. This was followed by the state appealing to the Centre to grant funds for a state drought. Earlier, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said, “It has been a tradition that whenever there is a drought, the state governor tours the districts to ascertain the calamity.†Pawar’s dig at state governor K Shankaranarayan is the outcome of the latter’s stern directive to the government against diverting funds sanctioned for Vidarbha to western Maharashtra. The NCP has been reportedly trying to extract more funds for Pune, Solapur, Satara and Sangli at the cost of Vidarbha and Marathwada.


Congress MLAs: Govt blind to eastern Maha drought - Mumbai - DNA

 

Now they notice !!

 

Sonia gandhi visited Satara in 2003-04,just when General and state elections were near.the Drought situation is not a new thing,back then Sonia promised that she would personally look after the drought situation in vidarbha,Marathwada and promised relief funds.9 year later her son visit Satara,we have congress govt in state and centre.Nothing has changed.

A Farmer commits suicide everyday,a Women has to travel as much as 7 km to get drinking water,cattle dies by consuming Poisoned water.the Maharashtra govt in inept,the Ghandis are inept.Sonia couldn't change the situation and neither will Rahul

 

Indira came then Sonia came now Raul has come but nothing has changed. Still the people of Maharashtra vote for congress.

God bless them.

 

The situation will and is changing.Congress ne Apne hi pairo pe Hathoda mar Liya hai !! It will be difficult for Congress/NCP to come in power in 2014 state elections,Raj and Uddhav thakeray needs to come together for people's interest.

MNS will be a game changer as it has proved in every election since it's existence,Shiv sena/BJP/MNS alliance will give hard time for congress Alliance