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Centre, state turn blind eye on drought-hit Vidarbha-TIMES OF INDIA

 

Ramu Bhagwat, TNN | May 17, 2012, 02.00AM IST

 

"This stepmotherly treatment is shocking," said Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishor Tiwari."Even in past, Vidarbha villages never got timely drought relief. The NCP and its supremo Sharad Pawar are ensuring that only villages in their constituencies get aid," he alleged.

"Since several villages are drought-hit, they have effectively 'marketed' the drought and are cornering the relief money," he added.

NAGPUR: Of the 6200 villages facing drought-like situation in the state this year, 72% or 4490 are in Vidarbha.

Yet, neither the state government nor the Centre has deemed it necessary to extend relief measures like setting up fodder depots, cattle camps or special funds to provide drinking water to affected Vidarbha villages.

All the relief funds, as also the Rs 700 crore provided for it by the Union government, are being spent on drought-hit western Maharashtra only.

On Wednesday, the state cabinet announced some more relief measures for drought-hit parts of the state. It has decided to provide Rs 10 crore each to 15 talukas for measures to fight drought. Not even one of these is from Vidarbha.

Those that get these funds are Sangamner, Jat, Palus, Mann, Mangalveda, Parner, Bhoom, Purandar, Athapadi, Kavthe, Khanapurm Tasgaon and Sangole.

"I tried to raise the plight of Vidarbha villages and scarcity of drinking water and fodder, but mine was the lone voice and too feeble in the cabinet dominated by members representing western Maharashtra," said EGS minister Nitin Raut.

Anil Deshmukh, another cabinet minister said, "Aid is being given where the drought is severe."

Social justice minister Shivajirao Moghe, who is guardian minister of Nagpur where nearly 500 villages are reeling under severe scarcity of water and fodder, had a different take on the issue. He justified the action saying the situation in Vidarbha was relatively better than the areas for which the government announced special relief. "It's the acuteness of the crisis that decides relief measures," he said.

Not many are buying this. "Situation in Chandur Bazar and Achalpur in my constituency is far worse. I have written to the district collector about how fodder was unavailable. People are finding it difficult to feed the cattle and are preferring to sell them," said Bacchu Kadu, Achalpur MLA.

He said no fodder depot was opened in Amravati district where 1985 villages have reported yield below 50 paise (Annewari).

"The government has conveniently changed the criteria for relief measures. Instead of going by year-long rainfall records and ground situation, government has accepted yardsticks that suit only western Maharashtra villages. For instance, they are now only looking at levels of well water to provide aid," said Kadu.

"This stepmotherly treatment is shocking," said Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishor Tiwari.

"Even in past, Vidarbha villages never got timely drought relief. The NCP and its supremo Sharad Pawar are ensuring that only villages in their constituencies get aid," he alleged.

"Since several villages are drought-hit, they have effectively 'marketed' the drought and are cornering the relief money," he added.