Former member of planning body says corruption to blame for situation in state.
Even as the state government reels under a severe drought-like situation, economist and former member of the planning commission, professor HM Desarda, said that drought is a result of failure of public policy, not a failure of rains.
Desarda said he has submitted the findings of a study to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on behalf of the Maharashtra Famine Relief and Eradication Committee. The findings say that the state received 90% of rainfall in 2012 and there is not much deficiency when compared to the long-term average rainfall of the state.
Two days ago, Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of South Asia Network of Dams, Rivers and People had alleged that the drought situation had been engineered by the state government, which has diverted water to cash crops. Similar allegations were levelled by activists Medha Patkar and Anna Hazare who said the drought situation was a result of political apathy, corruption and unchecked exploitation of water resources.
“Across 355 talukas in the state, only 17 received less than 300mm rainfall. But water scarcity in the state is much more pervasive as the government has declared 140 talukas hit by water scarcity... It is thanks to corruption in siphoning off public money, converting all resources into real estate as well as complete illiteracy of policymakers about water resources that led to this situation,” said Desarda.
The economist alleged that dams are being built not for water management but for kickbacks. “If dams were the solution, then Maharashtra has 40% big dams across India, still we are facing the worst drought... Industries like sugar mills, alcohol, petrochemicals are using potable water instead of recycled water,” he added.
The committee has demanded that the state shift its focus from expensive projects like giant dams to smaller, more efficient methods to store water. “There should be effective regulations on groundwater extraction, building construction projects should be stalled at least till August 2013,” said Desarda.
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