Jalyukt Shivar benefitted contractors, says Rajendra Singh

Singh also spoke of the social issues haunting the state and added that the agriculture, youth and water in Maharashtra are all in danger.

MUMBAI: Water expert Dr Rajendra Singh has criticized the Maharashtra government for flaws in its flagship program Jalyukt Shivar saying that the scheme has benefited contractors more than the farmers or the cause of water conservation.

"The Agriculture, Youth and Water (Kisani, Jawani Aur Pani) are under threat in Maharashtra," Singh said while speaking at the concluding session of an agro exhibition at Sangli in Western Maharashtra.

"The Jalyukt Shivar scheme was originally going on very well. However, it was ruined once it went into the hands of contractors. They started using machines and started overusing them for their own benefit," Singh said.

Had the scheme for water and soil conservation been implemented with due diligence and by keeping away the vested interests it would have so successful that it would have been a role model of such schemes elsewhere in the world, he added.

Singh claimed that the government doesn't have any schemes for the farmers and that the traders are taking undue advantage of the situation and looting the farmers.

Singh also spoke of the social issues haunting the state and added that the agriculture, youth and water in Maharashtra are all in danger.

"32 districts of Maharashtra are reeling under the danger of drought. Yet, in some villages liquor is available where water is hardly available. This is a very sorry state of affairs. The government needs to work more on the water management front," Singh said. 

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com