Pawar meets Fadnavis, discusses drought issue

NCP president Sharad Pawar Wednesday met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the drought issue in the state and suggested measures to combat shortage of fodder for cattle and drinking water.

Pawar has been maintaining that the current situation is "grimmer" than the drought witnessed during 1972.

Fadnavis said the government has already taken decision, like Rs 100 grant per livestock for fodder camp even as he assured to look into other demands raised by Pawar, the chief minister's office tweeted.

The meeting, held at the CM's official residence 'Varsha' here, was also attended by senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar.

During the meeting, Sharad Pawar said, he discussed the situation witnessed during his visits to the drought-hit areas of Solapur, Satara, Beed and Osmanabad.

"The Centre had given Rs 35,000 grant per hectare in 2012-13 to see orchards don't dry. Grants should be given on the same grounds now too," Pawar tweeted.

The former Union agriculture minister said the CM assured that the issue would be followed up with the Centre after May 23, when the model code of conduct no longer remains in force.

The issue relating to camps for goats in line with those for cattle was also discussed during the meeting.

Pawar expressed concerns over people from drought-hit areas not getting food grain on ration card despite the Food Security Act being in effect.

Meanwhile, the chief minister's office tweeted later, "Senior leader Sharad Pawar meets CM @Dev_Fadnavis and discussed issues and drought mitigation measures. GoM has already taken many decisions like ?100 grant/livestock for fodder camps,tanker supply based on village population of 2018. The chief minister assured to look into other demands too.