Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday accused the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government of abandoning the ambitious water grid project planned for the drought‑prone Marathwada region.
He said that crop loss surveys were a mere formality and were being conducted as a procedural requirement, though the devastation was already evident.
“We have gathered all the reports and are taking action accordingly. The government has taken the drought situation very seriously and has started working. We are going to help the farmers, and our loan waiver scheme is also on and will not be shut. “Water grid was a very ambitious project. But the Maha Vikas Aghadi government dumped it. The funds given by the Centre under the Jal Jeevan Mission could have been used for the water grid. Fadnavis stressed that his government’s priority was to bring water to the Marathwada region. “We have seen wells here that have dried up.
We are arranging water availability and fodder as well,” Fadnavis told reporters. The government has also planned for water availability and fodder, the chief minister said. Responding to questions on farmers’ demand for the water grid project, Fadnavis alleged that the MVA government had “dumped” the plan after coming to power. Instead, they diverted those funds elsewhere,” he said. He said the government had reserved water resources for drinking purposes, ensuring availability until next June. We anticipated a drinking water crisis and have made provision till next June,” he said.
