Take up water conservation in every village to fight drought, CM says; Nashik zilla parishad tops Panchayat Raj awards

Nashik: The state faces a severe drought this year, and to turn the crisis into an opportunity every village should take up water conservation works, desilt percolation tanks and check dams and plan every drop of water, with the state providing the funds, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said. He was distributing the Chief Minister's Samruddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan 2025-26 awards and launching the campaign's second phase at the Youth Festival ground in Panchavati on Sunday, October 11.

Fadnavis told sarpanches from across the state that phase 2.0 should prioritise works on the theme of fighting drought, that available water should go first to drinking and livestock, and that any savings should be used to plan the rabi season. Although drought has been declared in 265 talukas with 12 kinds of concessions, conditions in other talukas are not good either, so all villages will be helped regardless of the criteria, he promised. He also made an emotional appeal to farmers not to sell their livestock, saying the government would help with fodder and water.

In the state-level awards, the Nashik zilla parishad came first among zilla parishads and the Nashik panchayat samiti first among panchayat samitis. Pune and Sangli zilla parishads were second and third, and the Khalapur (Raigad) and Rahata (Ahilyanagar) panchayat samitis second and third. Among gram panchayats, Ladud in Baglan taluka shared second place with Kamshet in Guhagar taluka. The gram panchayat prizes are worth ₹5 crore, ₹3 crore and ₹2 crore.

Rural development minister Jaykumar Gore said 5,644 villages took part in the campaign, completing works such as farm roads, toilets, school repairs and gymnasiums. Legislative Council chairman Prof Ram Shinde, water resources minister and guardian minister Girish Mahajan, school education minister Dada Bhuse and FDA minister Narhari Zirwal were present, and Padma Shri Popatrao Pawar addressed the gathering.

Sources: Deshdoot; Navarashtra; Esakal