Maha: CM takes stock of drought situation in Jalna

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reviewed the drought situation in Jalna district Saturday.

Noting that all tehsils in the district except Mantha have been declared as drought-hit, he assured that the government has enough funds to tackle drought.

The district received less than 60 per cent rain fall this monsoon, and while small irrigation projects have gone dry, the medium irrigation projects have scanty water stocks, he said.

On state Congress chief Ashok Chavan's criticism of BJP-led government's handling of the drought situation, Fadnavis said the opposition party always plays politics on drought.

People have turned their back on Congress's ongoing Jan Sangharsh Yatra, Fadnavis claimed.

He had directed police officers to take action against sand mafia and illicit liquor dens under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, he said.

Earlier, he took stock of drought situation in the district at a meeting with guardian minister Babanrao Lonikar, minister for state for dairy development Arjun Khotkar, BJP state unit president Raosaheb Danve and senior officials.

Police stopped local NCP workers who wanted to enter the collector's office and hand Fadnavis a memorandum.

NCP alleged that police used lathi-charge against its workers.

According to officials, 24 villages in Jalna district are getting water through tankers at present.