Pune: The state govt on Wednesday set a Nov 20 deadline to clear all pending bills for water scarcity-related works from the past two years. The move comes after farmers threatened to block acquisition of their wells for emergency water supply due to unpaid dues.Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who heads the cabinet subcommittee on drought mitigation, asked officials to settle the outstanding payments, warning that farmers would not allow their wells to be acquired if their dues remained unpaid.The meeting also decided to examine a wage hike for workers employed under Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission. A high-level committee headed by chief secretary Rajesh Agrawal will examine the proposal, and a govt resolution is expected within 10 days.The subcommittee also approved immediate measures to tackle drinking water and fodder shortages, expedite incomplete Jal Jeevan Mission works and protect horticultural crops.A review found that around 75% of Jal Jeevan Mission works have been completed. Officials were asked to expedite the remaining works and make at least Rs 500 crore available immediately for schemes costing less than Rs 5 crore each. A three-month action plan will be drawn up in accordance with the Centre’s conditions.To address fodder shortages, the govt will facilitate its transportation from districts with surplus stocks to those facing shortages. Divisional commissioners and collectors have been asked to coordinate the supply across districts and administrative divisions. Farmers cultivating silt-deposited land have also been permitted to grow jowar, maize and gram.Govt will also prepare a special standard operating procedure (SOP) to extend the benefits of Central and state schemes to an estimated four to five lakh farming families who are not officially recorded as landholders.The meeting called for increasing district planning committee allocations and integrating MGNREGA and District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC) works to avoid duplication.Officials have been asked to expedite measures to protect orchards, revive water bodies and process proposals concerning 13 drought-affected talukas. “Officials must submit a detailed report by Nov 15 on additional talukas that need to be declared drought-hit. This could result in 13 more talukas being included,” Bawankule said during the meeting.Bawankule said the state govt was serious about tackling the drought-like situation and had undertaken better planning than other states.
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