‘Water conservation a must to tackle drought, farmer suicides in Maharashtra’: Devendra Fadnavis

Fadnavis hailed the mass movements launched by various NGOs such as BJS founded by Shantilal Muttha, Paani Foundation founded by actor Aamir Khan, and Pune-based NAAM Foundation led by Makarand Anaspure and actor Nana Patekar that works for the betterment of farmers in drought-hit regions of Marathwada and Vidarbha.

“I truly acknowledge the role of these NGOs in creating water awareness and making it a mass movement. My role had been supportive to these organisations who instilled confidence in villagers to combat drought. Water champions Aamir Khan and his team encouraged villagers to engage in healthy competition to make their own villages self-reliant in water. Therefore, water conservation is only way forward to effectively make Maharashtra drought free and end farmers suicides,” he said.

Fadnavis said that all these initiatives and awareness drives yielded good results, referring to the 2020 survey of the Central Government that highlighted the rise in water table in Maharashtra contrary to the declining trend of water table across the country.

Under his flagship ‘Jalyukta Shivar’ scheme, 25,000 drought-hit villages especially in Marathwada and Vidarbha were shortlisted. The scheme to make Maharashtra drought free had received the support of several NGOs.

Acknowledging the role of Jain community that represents BJS in entrepreneurship and contribution in GDP, Fadnavis said, “The route to five trillion dollar economy goes through you. It is not enough to take from society. Equally important is to generously give to society”.