There is no work under MNREGA. The last time we got work under MNREGA was some 7-8 years ago. Never after that. How will poor survive this unprecedented drought? asks Mahanandabai, another Dalit lady from Deogarah village in Chakurtaluka of Latur
I have an acre land on which I mostly grow soyabean. Four years ago, I used to get 7-8 quintal of soyabean which fetched me Rs 30,000. Since last two years, there is no crop at all. There is no work in he village. My husband now drives an autorickshaw in Latur city, Devshala Kamble of Deogarah village in Chakurtaluka of Latur.
Dalit families in Deogarah village in Chakurtaluka of Latur allege they had demanded work under MNREGA from agriculture dept two months ago. Rather than employing villagers, the work of two farm ponds was completed within days by using heavy machinery. These Dalit farmers barely have an acre or 2 acre land. Due to drought, they cannot do farming. And, there is no work available under MNREGA. These families have now decided to hold a pradarshan and rally and force district administration to give it work under MNREGA. Else they all are ready to go to jail.
Watershed map of Harangul village in Latur taluka. Villagers have collected Rs 1.5 crore and are deepening the river and streams flowing through the village's farmland. They have used heavy machinery and JCBs to deepen 18 kms of river stretch. They have dug open 10-18 feet of river, which experts claim is not a good way to recharge rainwater.
Political activists, employees of Art Of Living, industrialists, rich residents of Latur are digging 18 kms of Manjara River, which has gone completely dry and used to supply water to Latur city. They are using JCBs to dig the river and it is a highly controversial project. Art Of Living is carrying out several such controversial river rejuvenation projects in various districts of Maharashtra.
Miling Bembalkar, a resident of Latur city has been harvesting rainwater for the last 15 years. The capital investment was Rs 5000 only. Even with 20 inch rain, he easily recharges 125,000 litres of water per year, which is enough to meet water needs of his family of 4 for 3 months. In spite of severe drought and water scarcity in latur city, Bembalkar'sborewell still has water and he is not facing any water shortage.
Political parties who have sucked Latur dry due to sugarcane factories are now busy distributing free drinking water through water tankers. Drought is a perfect time to score political points.
Private water tanker who was filling the tanker from a dugwell. The man standing next to the water tanker is the owner of the dugwell. The private water tanker guy pays Rs 250 to the dugwell owner for 6000 litres of water that he fills in the tanker. He takes water to Latur city and sells for Rs 800 per 6000 litres. The private tanker guy makes at least 6-7 trips a day to this dugwell which still has not gone dry.
On April 8, Manjara river deepening and widening project was launched. JCBs are being used to deepen the river. Water experts claim such river rejuvenation plans are extremely dangerous and disastrous. They will worsen the water problems.
On April 8, Manjara river deepening and widening project was launched. JCBs are being used to deepen the river. Water experts claim such river rejuvenation plans are extremely dangerous and disastrous. They will worsen the water problems.
An angry Uday Deshpande, a farmer from Nagzari village near Latur told Down To Earth (standing on Nagzari barrage which earlier used to supply drinking water to Latur city), I have 10 acres of farm land, but due to drought, I could get only 20 quintal of soyabean from 10 acres last year. This kharif season
Manjara dam completely dried up. For the first time in 35 years, the dam has dried up. It is the only source of drinking water for Latur city. Manjara is the only river of Latur, its lifeline, which has completely gone dry this year.
Manjara dam pumping station. The caretaker told Down To Earth that the dam has had very little water for the last 3 years. This year the dam has gone completely dry. It has three pumps of 650 horsepower with a monthly bill of at least Rs 7-8 lakh. For the last three months, no water pumping is being done as there is no water at all. Even dead storage water has gone dry.
A private water supplying water to a cattle camp near Beed town. The camp has 799 cattle and daily water requirement is 36,000 litres. The cost of one 12,000 litres tanker is Rs 1500, including the rental and diesel cost. Water has to be sourced from borewells 20 kms away and total per day cost of water is Rs 4500. The camp needs 12 tonne of fodder a day and per tonne cost is Rs 2800. So total per day cost of fodder is Rs 33,600. Beed district has 262 cattle camps with 260925 cattle.
A private water supplying water to a cattle camp near Beed town. The camp has 799 cattle and daily water requirement is 36,000 litres. The cost of one 12,000 litres tanker is Rs 1500, including the rental and diesel cost. Water has to be sourced from borewells 20 kms away and total per day cost of water is Rs 4500. The camp needs 12 tonne of fodder a day and per tonne cost is Rs 2800. So total per day cost of fodder is Rs 33,600. Beed district has 262 cattle camps with 260925 cattle.
Farmers from neighbouring villages have brought their cattle to the cattle camp in Beed. They are at the camp since January this year. This calf was born in the camp. Villagers claim if it was not for the cattle camps, their cattle would be dead due to water and fodder scarcity.
ArjunChavan is a 70 years old farmer from Pendgaon in Beed district. He is at the cattle camp since January this year with his 4 cows, 2 oxen and 1 calf. The drought of 1972 wasn't this terrible. We had shortage of food grains but had plenty of water. We used to regularly receive ration from the government. But this time, there is neither water nor fodder. To top it all, ration supplies are irregular. On being asked, why he did not sell his cattle due to extreme drought, he said, Why will I sell my cattle? What will I do without cattle? A farmer cannot cultivate without cattle. Where will milk come from? Where will cow dung come from? Janwarhai to shetkarihai [If there is cattle, there is farmer].
ArjunChavan is a 70 years old farmer from Pendgaon in Beed district. He is at the cattle camp since January this year with his 4 cows, 2 oxen and 1 calf. The drought of 1972 wasn't this terrible. We had shortage of food grains but had plenty of water. We used to regularly receive ration from the government. But this time, there is neither water nor fodder. To top it all, ration supplies are irregular. On being asked, why he did not sell his cattle due to extreme drought, he said, Why will I sell my cattle? What will I do without cattle? A farmer cannot cultivate without cattle. Where will milk come from? Where will cow dung come from? Janwarhai to shetkarihai [If there is cattle, there is farmer].