The dams across the State Maharashtra are left with just 25 percent water while other parts of the country are busy in fighting with the flood. Last year in the same period, there was 46.5% water in these dams. Places like the Marathwada region is alarming with just 0.82 percent water left in its dams. Total 4,716 water tankers are plying to serve drinking water needs of about 12,800 villages and hamlets.
Total Eight districts of Marathwada region recorded with 177.8 mm rainfall from June 1 to July 23 against the normal rainfall of 259.9 mm reporting deficiency of 32 percent. The Vidarbha region is also reported with a 40 percent deficit during the same time. Yavatmal district which is infamous for farmer suicides from past few decades has recorded 58 percent shortfall with just 148.4 mm rainfall against the normal rainfall of 355.3 mm.
Kharif Crop and the Farmer’s Condition
Total 149.74 lakh hectares area is under Kharif cultivation, out of which sowing has been completed on 110.36 lakh hectares (73.70 percent). If the situation remains the same and rains continue to evade the region, farmers will be left with no option rather than go for another round of sowing.
Rain deficiency in the last season had left the twenty-six of 36 districts (72 percent) into total water scarcity and crop failure over 85.76 lakh hectares affected about 85 lakh farmers. That’s one of the major reasons which pushed the farmers to take the supreme step of their life.
After reviewing the inadequate rainfall, the State government of Maharashtra is gearing up for artificial rain in Solapur and Aurangabad districts. The State Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said that the government might implement a cloud seeding project this week.
Loan waiver and Farmer’s suicide
Shiv Sena, the ruling partner of the BJP in the state and at the Centre has taken up loan waiver as one of the major issues ahead of State elections. Aditya Thackeray, son of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said that the party will stand by farmers and will ensure that the government provides all possible help to tackle the ongoing crisis.
Let’s hope this may help save those farmer’s lives who are cursed with loan and climate.
