Pune (Maharashtra) [India]: Speaking at the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS) National Convention 2024, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis underscored the critical need for water conservation to address Maharashtra’s ongoing crisis of farmers’ suicides and water scarcity.
Key Highlights:
- Alarming Water Crisis in Maharashtra
- Fadnavis noted that Maharashtra has been grappling with a 50% water deficit annually.
- He emphasized that the root cause of farmers’ distress and suicides lies in inadequate water availability, which hampers agricultural sustainability.
- Encouraging Trends in Groundwater Levels
- Defending the government’s initiatives, Fadnavis cited a 2020 central government report showing a rise in Maharashtra’s water table, contrasting with declines in other Indian states.
- He credited collaborative efforts by organizations such as:
- Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS)
- Aamir Khan’s Paani Foundation
- Nana Patekar’s Naam Foundation
- Farmers’ Suicides: A Persistent Challenge
- Despite improvements in water conservation, Maharashtra accounted for 37.6% of all farmer suicides in India in 2022, as per the National Crime Records Bureau.
- During the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections, farmers voiced frustration over insufficient governmental support, highlighting crop failures, debt, and lack of irrigation facilities as key issues.
- Proposed Solutions
- Fadnavis stressed the urgent need for state-wide water conservation programs, efficient irrigation projects, and sustainable farming practices.
- He urged continued collaboration between government bodies, NGOs, and community-led initiatives to resolve water scarcity and support farmers.
The Bigger Picture:
While Maharashtra’s improving water table offers a glimmer of hope, systemic challenges like fragmented landholdings, erratic monsoons, and financial instability demand comprehensive policies and grassroots action to alleviate the agricultural crisis.