Immediate measures directed to address drought-like conditions in Beed district; prompt action ordered on demands raised by public representatives
Beed, Sept 2026 : “This year, due to El Niño, Beed and the entire Marathwada region have experienced a significant deficit in rainfall. As a farmer myself and a daughter of Marathwada, I am fully aware of the difficult situation and the pain being faced by farmers. However, farmers should not lose hope. The government stands firmly with them, and together we will overcome this shortage,” Deputy Chief Minister and Guardian Minister of Beed district Sunetra Ajit Pawar said here.
She also expressed hope that the region would receive rainfall during the retreating monsoon.
A crucial review meeting on the Kharif season and the possibility of a scarcity situation was held in Beed on Wednesday (September 16) under the chairpersonship of Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar. She said the state government was taking the situation of scarcity very seriously and that the issue was being discussed in detail at every Cabinet meeting.
She further said that the Chief Minister had already instructed the administration to conduct surveys of crop losses at the village level.
The meeting was attended online by MP Bajrang Sonawane and in person by MLAs Vikram Kale, Prakash Solanke, Suresh Dhas, Sandeep Kshirsagar and Vijaysinh Pandit. Deputy Chief Minister’s Secretary Dr Rajesh Deshmukh, District Collector Vivek Johnson, Chief Executive Officer Jitin Rehman, Superintendent of Police Navneet Kawath and other senior officials were also present.
Compensation and Crop Damage Assessment
MLA Suresh Dhas pointed out that the break in rainfall was not 29 days but 36 days. MLA Prakashdada Solanke said that 90-95 per cent of crops had been damaged and demanded assistance beyond the norms prescribed by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
MP Bajrang Sonawane demanded that compensation for crop losses be provided uniformly and that pending assistance from the previous period also be released immediately.
In response, Deputy Chief Minister Pawar directed the administration to conduct surveys and prepare panchnamas of crop damage in an objective and transparent manner and submit a detailed report to the government.
Drinking Water and Tankers
Strict instructions were issued to reserve the remaining water in dams exclusively for drinking purposes and immediately stop illegal extraction of water.
Authorities were directed to continuously monitor groundwater levels and promptly approve proposals for water tankers wherever required. Tankers should be started without delay, while private wells in agricultural areas should be acquired for filling tankers. Instructions were also issued to undertake new borewells wherever necessary.
Beed City Water Supply
Pawar directed officials to make immediate efforts to restore a smooth water supply to Beed city. She also said the government would positively consider waiving outstanding electricity bills related to the city's water supply scheme at the government level.
Fodder Shortage
The meeting noted the serious fodder shortage in Ashti taluka, where adequate fodder was reportedly unavailable as per records. Pawar directed the Relief and Rehabilitation Department to take an immediate decision on establishing fodder depots.
Water Conservation and Dams
The administration was instructed to undertake extensive water conservation works across the district during the scarcity period. Micro-level planning should also be undertaken for desilting projects through non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
MLA Solanke demanded that a campaign be launched to ensure that the canal of Jayakwadi Dam continues to operate at full capacity.
Crop Loans and Banking
Taking note of difficulties faced by farmers while obtaining crop loans because of CIBIL reports, officials were warned that banks should not reject loan applications solely on the basis of CIBIL scores.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar extended greetings to all public representatives, officials and citizens on the occasion of Marathwada Liberation Struggle Day on September 17.
She directed the administration to take all suggestions made by public representatives seriously and work on a war footing to address the scarcity situation.
