Farmers' suicides won't stop unless irrigation is improved: CM Devendra Fadanvis

MAHARASHTRA: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis today said that improving the irrigation facilities was the only solution to curb farmers' suicides in the state.

"It is a matter of shame for everyone that farmers continue to commit suicides. There is an urgent need to address basic issues like improving irrigation facilities.

"Unless that is done, there can never be a solution to farmers' suicide. Removing the irrigation backlog is the only way to overcome this prevailing grave situation," he said while addressing a regional review meeting at the ZP meeting hall here.

There is a need to create a sense of security among the farmers, he added.

"Construction of big dams is a time-consuming process, which also needs a huge amount of money. It is therefore necessary to concentrate on programmes like 'Jalyukta Shivar' (providing villages with permanent source of water)," he said.

The Chief Minister also urged the government officials to construct small dams, barrages and wells as an alternative to dams.

"Madhya Pradesh government embarked on constructing three lakh wells across the state, which enabled them to improve the irrigation capacity to 24 per cent in five years time," he said.

Fadnavis visited several villages in Yavatmal tehsil and examined the damages caused to the standing crops by the recent untimely rain and hailstorm.