“Situation worse than 1972”: Rohit Pawar flags severe Maharashtra drought
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar warns of a severe drought in Maharashtra, demanding immediate loan waivers and financial aid for distressed farmers.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar has issued a stark warning regarding the escalating Maharashtra drought crisis, claiming the current water scarcity and economic distress are even more severe than the historic drought of 1972. Addressing the media, Pawar demanded urgent intervention from the state government to prevent a total collapse of the rural economy.
Demanding Immediate Relief and Debt Waivers
Pawar has called upon Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to move beyond rhetoric and provide tangible support to the farming community. His demands include:
- Complete Loan Waivers: A total waiver of agricultural loans to relieve the crushing burden on farmers.
- Halt to Debt Recovery: An immediate stop to all debt recovery processes in drought-hit regions.
- Electricity Bill Waivers: If concessions are not provided, he insists that farmers' electricity bills must be waived entirely.
- Educational Support: A waiver of school fees for children living in areas severely impacted by the drought.
- Livestock Assistance: Direct financial aid for farmers who maintain livestock, such as cows, bulls, sheep, and goats.
Conflicting Government Stances
The NCP (SP) leader highlighted a lack of clarity in the government's approach to disaster management. He pointed out the contradictions between the leadership, noting that while the Chief Minister promises immediate help, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan suggests that aid will only be provided according to specific policies.
"The Chief Minister says we will help immediately, but Minister Girish Mahajan says we will help according to the policy. So what is the policy?" Pawar questioned, adding that if the state acknowledges the severity of the crisis, the relief measures must match the scale of the disaster.
The Rainfall Deficit: A Statistical Breakdown
Data presented by Pawar paints a grim picture of the monsoon's failure across the state. As of September 27, Maharashtra had received 20 per cent less rainfall than expected overall. The monthly breakdown reveals a highly erratic and insufficient pattern:
- June: 40 per cent below normal.
- July: 110 per cent (10 per cent above normal).
- August: 51 per cent deficit.
- September: 49 per cent deficit.
Regional Impact Across Maharashtra
The drought is not uniform but has hit major agricultural belts with devastating force. According to the figures shared:
- Nashik Division: 34 per cent rainfall deficit.
- Pune Division: 32 per cent rainfall deficit.
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar & Amravati: 34 per cent deficit each.
- Nagpur Division: 25 per cent deficit.
- Konkan: 9.8 per cent deficit.
Economic Toll on the Rural Economy
Pawar emphasized that the reality on the ground is even more dire than official statistics suggest. In many villages, not a single drop of rain has fallen for two consecutive months. This has led to a massive financial drain on the farming community.
The legislator noted that farmers have been forced to spend approximately Rs 95,500 crore out of their own pockets to manage their livelihoods. Had the weather been favorable and produce prices been stable, the agricultural sector could have potentially earned around Rs 1.28 lakh crore. To better understand the struggle, Pawar also conducted video conferences with farmers from various parts of the state to hear their firsthand accounts of the crisis.