The controversy centres on the arrangement of cashews and almonds for ministers and government officials during the drought review meeting. The visuals triggered anger over the perception that leaders and officials were consuming dry fruits while farmers were dealing with worsening agricultural conditions.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the issue while speaking to the media in Nagpur. He said that there is generally a practice of the administration arranging dry fruits during meetings, but such arrangements should be avoided in circumstances such as these. However, he said it would not be appropriate to suggest that someone had deliberately made such arrangements because there was a drought.
“Generally, we have a practice where the administration brings dry fruits and keeps them during meetings. Such things should be avoided. But it is not right to say that someone is deliberately doing this because there is a drought. The administration must keep certain things in mind and act sensitively,” Fadnavis said.
The Nanded meeting was held to assess the drought-like situation in Marathwada. The issue has emerged amid concerns over the condition of farmers in several districts of Maharashtra, where inadequate rainfall has affected standing crops and is expected to reduce agricultural yields.
Fadnavis said that a drought-like situation has developed in several districts of the state and that crops have been damaged because of the lack of rainfall. He said the yield is expected to be lower under the prevailing conditions.
According to Fadnavis, all ministers discussed the situation during a Cabinet meeting and were directed to review conditions in their respective districts and make preparations. He said the government would conduct a preliminary assessment and crop-loss panchnamas over the following week and provide assistance.
Meanwhile, the process of farm-loan waiver is underway, Fadnavis said. Three lists have been completed, while the remaining work is being expedited. He said farmers would be provided immediate assistance to the fullest possible extent.
The Chief Minister also said arrangements were being made for drinking water and fodder. He said that in view of the El Niño crisis, the government had undertaken a fodder development programme and that arrangements would be made wherever there was a fodder shortage.
Fadnavis further said arrangements had been made to provide additional electricity for agriculture during the evening. Additional power was being supplied across the affected areas, he said, adding that crops could be saved in places where water was available in wells.
The government would implement drought-relief measures and attempt to provide at least some relief to farmers, Fadnavis said.
On criticism from the Opposition, Fadnavis said Opposition parties were politicising the drought situation. He said the Opposition was aware of the government resolutions and rules governing drought-related measures, which are also necessary for receiving funds from the National Disaster Response Fund.
He said the state government does not wait for NDRF funds before extending assistance, adding that it first provides help from state government resources and subsequently claims the funds from the NDRF.
Fadnavis also said that political reactions to every issue were not appropriate. He said rabi crops could be planned in areas where wells still had water.
The Chief Minister said a decision had not yet been taken on the matter, but areas that were particularly dry could require specific measures. He noted that, fortunately, major dams had good water storage this time, while smaller dams in Marathwada had lower water levels.
He said the government therefore needed to conserve water in such areas to prevent a drinking-water crisis. Water has also been reserved in major dams, he said, and until the next assessment is received, the reserved water would be used for drinking purposes.
The controversy over the cashews and almonds has therefore unfolded alongside the government’s assessment of crop losses, water availability, fodder requirements, electricity supply and proposed relief measures for farmers affected by the prevailing drought-like conditions in Maharashtra.
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