Drought relief funds from Centre only next year: CM

After meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the empowered Group of Ministers in New Delhi,the state government will now focus on Rs 2,200 crore for farm ponds and bunds.

It has revised estimates and calculations of drought impact after the improved rainfall across the state,except parts of Marathwada.

Chavan said the demand for white paper was to seek information about the work done on irrigation in the state. Work of Rs 80,000 crore still remains to be done in the state and the irrigation department has reverted with the response that the irrigable land was increased by five per cent in the year.

“When I asked about the white paper on irrigation,it was not about making allegations against anyone. It was to draw a plan of how to go forward,” said Chavan.

Citing the example of Jat taluka in his home district of Satara,among the worst affected in the state,Chavan said villagers from one part had to travel 63 km to get water. This because the connection canals and linkages had not been built.

“How was it missed? Obviously,something has gone wrong. The Gosikhurd project was launched in 1985 by Rajiv Gandhi at an estimated cost of Rs 350 crore,which has now escalated to Rs 13,000 crore. You can call it whatever you want,be it white or black paper. The idea was to plan for the future,” said Chavan.