Equitable water distribution mooted to overcome drought in Marathwada region

Mumbai: Experts suggested equitable water distribution to overcome the drought in the Marathwada region at a discussion here on Monday.

S Kale of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) said the government should pay enough attention to ensure that there is equitable water allocation between urban and rural areas.

The meeting was organised by MLC Vinayak Mete, who heads the Shivsangram organisation.

Dean of JJ Hospital TP Lahane said that people should come forward to contribute in cash or kind to drought affected people of Marathwada.

However, addressing a meeting of the BJP's state unit here, Maharashtra BJP president Raosaheb Danve alleged that opposition parties are playing politics over a serious issue like drought.

He said that the drought situation is serious but the government is sensitive to the plight of farmers.

"The drought is the result of inefficiency of the previous Congress-NCP regime which spent Rs 70,000 crore on irrigation but there were no results," he said.

Danve asked BJP workers to undertake long term planning to tackle water scarcity in next nine months if rains continue to elude the affected region.

In a related development, Indian cricket player Ajinkya Rahane presented a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to help drought affected farmers.