Sharad Pawar holds review meeting on drought with NCP ministers

MUMBAI: Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today asked the NCP ministers in Maharashtra to ensure that benefits of the drought relief measures reach the needy speedily.

At a meeting held at the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the NCP chief discussed the drought situation with the ministers from his party, sources said.

Pawar told the ministers that he would meet Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and discuss the steps being taken.

Creating additional water bodies would be the permanent solution to the water scarcity, he said.

All the NCP ministers were present for the meeting. Pawar also elaborated on the Rs 1,207 crore sanctioned by the Centre for drought relief.

Complacency in implementing the relief measures would not be tolerated, the NCP chief told ministers, sources added.