Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the administration on Thursday, they should give the excuse of the Model Code of Conduct for undertaking repair work of pipelines for water supply schemes in drought affected areas, or taking approvals for tankers, starting fodder camps and giving EGS work. “There will be absolutely no difficulty in undertaking these works and the administration should not stall these works with the pretext of MCC,” said Fadnavis. He added, “These works should be given immediate sanction and in fact should be started at the earliest.” He said that the administration will take immediate cognisance of complaints and suggestions regarding the drought relief work in Osmanabad district.
Fadnavis was talking to village heads, gram sevaks, collectors and group development officers of Osmanabad district from his official residence ‘Varsha’ through the audio bridge. People from different villages had given their complaints and suggestions regarding the tanker supply, fodder camps, EGS works and other issues to CM. He thereafter directed the collector, tahsildar and group development officers to take cognisance of these complaints asking them to take immediate action and file a report on these activities.
Talking to the village heads, Fadnavis said, his government has taken serious note of the drought condition in Osmanabad district and has launched the relief measures with immediate effect. This dialogue with the village heads was conducted so that Fadnavis could get direct feedback on the implementation of various measures undertaken and if there is a need for any modifications. He told them, any complaint regarding drought relief measures will be resolved within 48 hours and policy decisions will be taken on long term measures, he added.
Currently, 139 tankers are operating in Osmanabad district. Out of which, most number, 34, are supplying water to Bhum taluka, while just one tanker is supplying water to Lohara taluka. 30 ‘vindhan’ wells, one temporary tap water supply scheme and 742 wells have been put in use in the district for water supply. The bills for wells acquired will be paid according to the amount of water supplied by tankers. Rs 436.41 lakh has been sanctioned against the payment of pending bill for water supply schemes in the district. Meanwhile, 85 government fodder camps have been set up in the district.
They have 55,247 big and 6,558 small animals, in all 61,805 animals have been kept in them. The per day grant for big animals is Rs 90 per animal and for small animals Rs 45 per animal has been sanctioned. Fadnavis said, “The government is considering increasing this grant. The state government is giving more funds to fodder camps as compared to the Union parameters.”
Fadanvis further said that seven talukas of the district have been declared drought-hit and Rs 236.17 crore for drought relief fund has been deposited in the bank accounts of 379,147 farmers living in 640 villages. Out of the 10.40 farmers, 49 farmers have registered for crop insurance scheme. 4,75,082 farmers were given compensation of Rs 168.96 crore. He further said, 703 EGS work is underway, with 7359 labourers employed.
Acting on the complaint of sarpanch Ashok Kate and others from Osmanabad, Fadnavis also directed the administration to start EGS work if the demand comes from the people. He also said, the water supply should be made as per the 2018 population figures and also to include the animal count. After many sarpanchs complained about pending proposals of tankers and fodder camps, Fadnavis directed the collector, ZP CEO and Tahsildars to approve these proposals and submit the report thereof.
