Mumbai: With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officially announcing the monsoon's withdrawal from most of Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Monday launched a sharp attack on the state government. The party warned that Maharashtra now confronts an unprecedented 9-to-10-month severe drought, a crisis threatening farmers across the region.
In its mouthpiece, 'Saamana', the Thackeray camp highlighted that the dry monsoon's departure, devoid of crucial return showers, has extinguished the last hopes of cultivators. More than half of Maharashtra now suffers from severe parched conditions. The editorial stated that over 20 of Maharashtra's 36 districts recorded an exceptional rainfall deficit this season.
The season began with delayed monsoon arrival, hindering early sowing efforts. Subsequent attempts at cultivation were futile as rains vanished for nearly two consecutive months, leading to widespread crop destruction across Marathwada, Vidarbha, and Central Maharashtra. Specific districts reported alarming deficits: Solapur saw the highest at 58 per cent, Beed a 51 per cent shortage, Hingoli 49 per cent, and Jalna 48 per cent. Ahilyanagar and Dharashiv both experienced a 46 per cent deficit. Even coastal Sindhudurg, typically known for abundant rainfall, registered a significant 36 per cent shortfall.
The Thackeray camp further slammed the state administration, alleging that local officials in drought-hit Solapur presented an irrigated, green farm to the Guardian Minister for inspection, rather than showcasing the actual dried-up crop devastation elsewhere. This, the party asserted, amounted to a cruel mockery of suffering farmers. Compounding the crisis, abnormal weather patterns have seen the typical 'October Heat' commence as early as mid-August, with temperatures soaring to 36 degrees statewide. This relentless heat has depleted green pastures, wells, and local water bodies, triggering acute shortages of both drinking water and cattle fodder.
The 'Saamana' editorial also reported a fresh wave of farmer suicides already beginning in regions like Vidarbha and Marathwada, driven by immense financial distress. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena unequivocally stated that merely declaring a drought does not absolve the government of its responsibilities. The party observed that while the monsoon has receded, ministers and leaders who previously engaged in photo opportunities at farm bunds have also retreated to the Secretariat, leaving farmers in desperate anticipation of immediate relief assistance.
Image: mangalorean.com
📰 Source: Mangalorean News