Drought-prone areas of Marathwada not receiving allotted water, claims Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve; warns of agitation

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Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve Friday warned of staging an agitation if the drought-prone areas of Marathwada do not receive the water allotted to them.

Water from dams in the upper areas is being used for non-irrigation purposes, because of which the Nandur Madhmeshwar project in Marathwada is getting less water, claimed Danve, the leader of opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council.

Danve held a meeting with officials of the Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation (GMIDC) in Aurangabad.

"I reviewed the status of projects in Marathwada and water for the region from the western area (of Godavari basin), connecting Vaitarna and Mukne projects on an administrative level. A review of schemes running in Marathwada under the Central government funds was also taken," he said.

The quantity of water used for non-irrigation purposes from the upper areas of the Nandur Madhmeshwar project was going up. However, this water is meant for farmers in Gangapur and Vaijapur talukas of Aurangabad, the Sena leader said.

Also read: Maharashtra: Five farmer suicides reported in Yavatmal district over three days

"We will take up this issue with the state government. If our voice is not heard, we will take to the streets," he said.

Talking to PTI, Danve claimed that out of 383 MCM of water from the Bham, Bhavli, Mukne and Darna dams of Nashik district that comes into Nandur Madmeshwar project, 303 MCM is reserved for Marathwada.

However, the drought-prone region is only receiving 125 MCM water, while the rest is being used for non-agricultural purposes in Nashik district, he alleged.

Meanwhile, five farmers ended their lives on account of crop failure or agriculture-related financial issues in the Yavatmal district of eastern Maharashtra from August 13 to 15, an activist claimed on Friday.

A local official confirmed the incidents but said the causes of these suicides were yet to be ascertained, PTI reported.

As many as 1,565 farmer suicides have taken place in Vidarbha (eastern Maharashtra) so far this year, claimed activist Kishore Tiwari, a former chairman of the state government's Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavlambi Mission for farmers' welfare.

A farmer named Manoj Rathod (35), a resident of village Yerad in Yavatmal district, hanged himself due to a financial crisis on August 15, he said.

Tribal farmer Karnu Kinake (51) of village Tembhi killed himself on August 14 due to financial issues. On the same day Shalu Pawar (42) of village Umar Vihir committed suicide, Tiwari said, adding that both these men had suffered losses as their crops were damaged by wild animals.

On August 13, Namdeo Waghmare (45), a farmer from village Tivrang, and Ramrao Rathod (42) of village Lohara committed suicide due to financial stress, the activist claimed.

A farmer also ended his life at village Shirala in Amravati district due to huge debt and crop failure in the last few days, Tiwari said.

"The main cash crop of cotton which is facing a very low demand has brought the economy to a standstill. The input cost has increased suddenly and the very low credit provided by PSU banks has added fuel to the crisis," he said.

A senior government official in Yavatmal confirmed that five farmers ended their lives in the district recently.

Police and the revenue department were probing whether farming-related distress or family disputes or any other reasons were behind these deaths, he said. (Agencies)