Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 26: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have recently inspected drought-like conditions and crop losses in different parts of the state, while Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray are scheduled to visit affected areas on Saturday.
Fadnavis recently visited parts of Dharashiv, Latur and Solapur districts to assess crop losses and interact with farmers. Shinde also undertook an inspection tour of drought-hit areas in Vidarbha. Reports said the visits were aimed at assessing the ground situation amid inadequate rainfall and crop damage.
Sunetra Pawar is scheduled to visit Nanded district on Saturday and inspect drought-like conditions in Lohara taluka. She is expected to reach Nanded airport at around 8 am and visit affected agricultural areas at around 9 am.
The visits come amid concerns over prolonged gaps in rainfall in several parts of Maharashtra, with farmers reporting damage to standing crops and difficulties linked to declining water availability.
Meanwhile, Aaditya Thackeray has begun a two-day tour of drought-affected areas covering Solapur, Dharashiv, Latur, Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Jalna and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts. He is scheduled to visit farmers and inspect crop conditions at several locations.
On Saturday, Thackeray's programme begins at 10.30 am at Boramani in South Solapur, where he will inspect the drought-like situation and interact with farmers. He will then visit Khanapur in Tuljapur taluka of Dharashiv district at 11.05 am, followed by an inspection at Ashta Mod in Lohara taluka at noon.
He is scheduled to visit Tavashi Tad in Ausa taluka of Latur district at 1.45 pm, Gaul in Kandhar taluka of Nanded district at 4 pm and Malwata Shivar in Vasmat taluka of Hingoli district at 6.20 pm.
On Sunday, Thackeray will visit Takli Kumbhakarna in Parbhani district, Varphal and Ramnagar Sugar Factory in Jalna district and Bhagatwadi in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
The parallel visits by ruling alliance leaders and opposition leader come as Maharashtra authorities assess the impact of deficient rainfall and crop losses in several districts. The state government has been reviewing the situation and considering measures for affected farmers, while opposition leaders have been seeking immediate assistance for those facing crop losses.