Maharashtra has set November 20 as the deadline to clear pending bills for water-scarcity works after farmers warned that they may refuse the acquisition of their wells for emergency water supply if outstanding payments are not settled.
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who heads the state cabinet subcommittee on drought mitigation, directed officials to clear dues from the past two years. The decision follows concerns that unpaid bills could disrupt the state’s ability to access private wells during a water shortage.
The subcommittee also approved immediate measures to address drinking water and fodder shortages, expedite incomplete Jal Jeevan Mission works and protect horticultural crops. A review found that about 75% of the Jal Jeevan Mission works had been completed. Officials were instructed to accelerate the remaining projects and make at least Rs 500 crore available immediately for schemes costing less than Rs 5 crore each.
The state will prepare a three-month action plan in line with conditions set by the Centre. Divisional commissioners and district collectors have been asked to coordinate the movement of fodder from districts with surplus stocks to areas facing shortages. Farmers cultivating land where silt has been deposited have also been permitted to grow jowar, maize and gram.
The meeting further decided to prepare a special standard operating procedure to extend Central and state scheme benefits to an estimated four to five lakh farming families who are not officially recorded as landholders. The government will also examine a proposal to increase wages for workers employed under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission. A high-level committee headed by Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal will examine the proposal, with a government resolution expected within 10 days.
Officials were asked to improve coordination between MGNREGA and District Planning and Development Committee works to avoid duplication, while district planning committee allocations are also expected to be increased. The subcommittee called for faster action to protect orchards, revive water bodies and process proposals concerning 13 drought-affected talukas.
Bawankule said officials must submit a detailed report by November 15 identifying additional talukas that may need to be declared drought-hit. The assessment could lead to 13 more talukas being included in the drought list. The state government also said it would facilitate fodder transportation between districts and continue measures to address the water-scarcity situation.
