Declare scarcity-like situation in Marathwada: Munde

Mumbai, July 24 (UNI) Accusing the Maharashtra Government of bias towards Marathwada, BJP leader Gopinath Munde today demanded that a 'scarcity like' situation be declared in the region's eight districts due to lack of rains.

Speaking in a debate in the Legislative Assembly on 'scarcity in Marathwada', Mr Munde said the government did not hesitate to put funds in western Maharashtra for cloud seeding, when the region faced acute scarcity.

''The government can spend Rs six crore to bring in artificial rains through cloud seeding in districts like Sangli, Satara, Baramati and Ahmednagar in Western Maharashtra. But, it cannot think of doing the same for Marathwada, which has been reeling under scarcity due to lack of rains,''he said.

Mr Munde said the Jaikwadi dam has only 60 per cent of water, which is last year's storage, while the other dams have 10 per cent water storage. At present, 121 villages in the region are being supplied drinking water through tankers. If the dry spell continues, more than 500 villages will suffer. The region has not received even 250 mm of rain this monsoon, he lamented.

The BJP leader said out of the total 76 talukas in eight districts, only three talukas received average rain last year. He wondered why the government was delaying declaration of 'scarcity like' situation in the region.

Mr Munde said at present there are 30,000 people employed under the Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) in the region. But, about one lakh people want work.''Where are the jobs,''he asked.

He accused the government of diverting funds meant for EGS to other areas.''This is the reason why the rural economy is being affected,''he added.

''Not even 25 per cent of the budgetary allocation has been spent,''he alleged.

Mr Munde demanded that government provide free supply of seeds for re-sowing to farmers if the need arises. ''All crops have been damaged and late rains are of no use. But, if the need arises for re-sowing, seeds must be provided free of cost,''he demanded adding that the electricity bills of farmers must be waived off.

Mr Suresh Warpurdkar of NCP, who initiated the debate, made a statistical presentation of the worsening drought situation in Marathwada.

UNI