Maharashtra government to hold cabinet meet in Marathwada

MUMBAI: Maharashtra government will conduct its cabinet meeting in Marathwada next month to discuss a long-term solution for the drought situation.

"We will conduct the state cabinet meeting in Marathwada in September and together we will discuss about a long-term solution for drought situation," Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

Fadnavis chaired a meeting with ministers and senior officials in Aurangabad yesterday regarding drought mitigation measures in Marathwada.

This will be the first cabinet meeting outside Mumbai of the Fadnavis government. Previous governments had a practice of holding cabinet meetings in Aurangabad, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri and Mahabaleshwar to address the issues of the region.

Fadnavis said proper planning for supply of water and fodder in drought-affected Marathwada was done. Cattle and fodder camps are systematically planned. Fodder distribution will be done through hydroponic technique.

Describing the situation in Latur as grave, he said," Water supply to Latur city will be done through railway wagon and water discharge from upper dam to lower dam was also planned."

Collectors will hold 'gram sabha' in every village and inform the details of all the measures taken by the state government.

They will also ensure that food security and health care measures reach beneficiaries. NREGA work will be taken up at large scale which will help employment generation here.

"Water conservation, farm ponds and well work will be taken up for JalYuktShivar programme," he said.

The water scarcity situation in Marathwada is said to be alarming, with Beed, Osmanabad and Latur districts being the worst-affected. The water storage in reservoirs in the region is only about eight per cent.