Congress seeks drought declaration for Buldhana district over crop losses
Congress's Deulgaon Raja taluka unit has asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to declare the entire district drought-hit and compensate farmers.
Citing extremely low rainfall this year that has caused large-scale crop losses, the Deulgaon Raja taluka committee of the Indian National Congress has demanded that the entire Buldhana district be declared drought-hit across the board. Taluka Congress president Ramdas Tateba Doiphode submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, requesting immediate crop surveys, compensation for the losses and approval of crop insurance for farmers.
The memorandum states that scanty rainfall this year has badly hit kharif season crops. It claims that soybean, cotton, tur (pigeon pea), maize and vegetable crops have suffered losses of 70 to 75 percent. In some areas, it says, crops have dried up and been rendered completely unusable, with losses reaching 90 to 95 percent. Congress said that even if rain falls now, there is little chance of recovering the losses already suffered, adding that this has deepened farmers' financial distress and the government must urgently intervene.
Congress said the losses should not merely be recorded on paper but that actual surveys should be conducted and relief distributed. The memorandum explicitly demands that Buldhana district be declared drought-hit across the board and that affected farmers be immediately paid compensation of Rs 1 lakh. It argues that if the government does not provide relief, farmers' financial crisis could deepen further, and has asked the administration to act without delay. It also seeks that affected farmers get crop insurance benefits at the earliest, with the process for insurance cover completed quickly.
A copy of the memorandum has also been given to Sindkhed Raja constituency MLA Manojbhau Kayande and the Deulgaon Raja tahsildar. Congress has asked the MLA to personally take up the matter and pursue it with the government for the benefit of farmers in the constituency. The memorandum reiterates its demand that the government take note of the farmers' losses and act urgently, complete the surveys, and take concrete steps on compensation and crop insurance.
The memorandum bears the signatures of taluka Congress president Ramdas Doiphode, city president Atishbhau Kasare, senior leaders Rameshdada Kayande, Anil Sawji, Hanifbhai Shah, Yash Kasare, Babasaheb Kolhe, Rajaram Kolhe, Matinbhai Chaus, Rajaram Khandebharad, Ravindra Ingle, Inayat Kha Haji Kha, Mubarakbhai Chandrabhan Zine, Abhay Maghade, Dhondiram Lanke, Piyush Kasare, Akash Kasare, Bhanu Tidke, Dhondiram Dhage and other Congress office-bearers and workers.
Farmers and residents are now watching what decision the government takes on the demands for immediate relief, approval of crop insurance and a drought declaration.
