Pawar asks Maha govt to improve condition of cattle camps

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday demanded that the Maharashtra government better the conditions in cattle camps and increase fodder given to the animals.

After voting for all 48 Lok Sabha seats got over in the state on Monday, Pawar, a former Union Agriculture minister, has begun a tour of drought-affected areas of Solapur and Osmanabad districts.

Visiting a cattle camp in Yalmar Mangewadi in Sangola tehsil on Tuesday, Pawar expressed concern saying support from the state government to farmers and cattle was insufficient.

He demanded that the units of fodder given to cattle in the camp be increased from the present 15 kilogrammes per day.

Pawar also met farmers in their fields and interacted with them.

"Half of the state is reeling under drought. In some talukas, such as Murbad and Ambernath in Thane district, there were complaints state authorities did not sanction tankers to provide drinking water in villages by offering excuse of the election code of conduct," Pawar said.

He alleged there have been similar complaints from Beed, Osmanabad, Dhule and some other parts of the state too.

"Despite that, the taluka and district administration has been denying tankers and demands to start fodder camp in their areas," said Pawar.