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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Fadnavis writes off Rs 48,000 crore

Mumbai: In a clear indication that the Maharashtra government is leaving no stone unturned to keep the state’s agrarian base happy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has unleashed yet another massive populist measure. Hot on the heels of relaxing the eligibility criteria to ensure a blanket farm loan waiver, the Chief Minister announced a sweeping Rs 48,000 crore waiver on the pending electricity bills of farmers across the state. Addressing a ‘Krutadnyata Sohala’ (gratitude ceremony)...

Fadnavis writes off Rs 48,000 crore

Mumbai: In a clear indication that the Maharashtra government is leaving no stone unturned to keep the state’s agrarian base happy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has unleashed yet another massive populist measure. Hot on the heels of relaxing the eligibility criteria to ensure a blanket farm loan waiver, the Chief Minister announced a sweeping Rs 48,000 crore waiver on the pending electricity bills of farmers across the state. Addressing a ‘Krutadnyata Sohala’ (gratitude ceremony) organized by the BJP Kisan Morcha at Mumbai’s Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan on Wednesday, Fadnavis declared that farmers using agricultural pumps of up to 7.5 horsepower will see their historical electricity dues completely wiped out. The announcement was met with the traditional sounding of the Tutari and thunderous applause from hundreds of farmers who had gathered from every corner of the state. The Chief Minister framed the mega-sop as a necessary step to “wipe the farmers’ slate clean,” enabling them to write a new chapter of prosperity. Calculated Pitch The timing and scale of the announcement underscore a government that is boldly embracing populist economics to solidify its political footprint in rural Maharashtra. While Fadnavis maintained that these decisions were taken purely in the interest of the farmers—pointing out that the original loan waiver was announced when no elections were in sight—the political undertones were unmistakable. Taking a sharp dig at the opposition, the Chief Minister accused rival parties of running “political shops” in the name of farmer agitations without understanding the government’s genuine intent. Asserting his grassroots connection, Fadnavis proudly claimed, “I do not make decisions sitting in my house. I am a farmer myself, a man of the soil.” He openly defended the government’s recent move to strip away the stringent conditions attached to the blanket farm loan waiver, signaling that his administration will not hesitate to clear bureaucratic hurdles if it means putting money directly into the hands of the rural voter. Balancing Sops Even as he rained freebies, the Chief Minister attempted to balance the populist optics with a dose of economic pragmatism. He acknowledged that handing out repeated loan waivers is a symptom of deep-rooted agrarian distress, not a permanent cure. Pointing to the Rs 95,000 crore in aid currently being pumped into the agricultural sector by the state and central governments, Fadnavis outlined his administration’s shift toward an investment-driven agricultural model. He championed the success of schemes like ‘Jalyukt Shivar’ and ‘Magel Tyala Shettale’ (farm ponds on demand), claiming these initiatives have already empowered farmers to harvest multiple crops a year. Addressing the core issue of farming costs, he noted that the government already subsidises power to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore annually. By coupling this with a push for solar pumps and solar agricultural feeders, he promised that 100 percent of the state’s farmers would receive uninterrupted daytime electricity by the end of the year. Infra Dream Looking beyond immediate financial relief, the Chief Minister laid out a grandiose vision to permanently drought-proof Maharashtra’s most vulnerable regions. A staggering Rs 6 lakh crore infrastructure pipeline is being planned to ensure the next generation never witnesses a drought. Fadnavis detailed ambitious river-linking projects, including the Wainganga-Nalganga link, to divert excess floodwaters to parched regions. The state plans to construct 24 new dams and raise the height of 16 existing ones to ensure not a single district in Vidarbha faces water scarcity. Furthermore, massive engineering feats are on the drawing board to divert 200 TMC of floodwater from Western Maharashtra to Marathwada, and lift 275 TMC of wasted water from the Ulhas basin to quench the thirst of North Maharashtra and Marathwada. By marrying immediate, massive debt relief with long-term infrastructure promises, the Fadnavis administration is aggressively cementing its pro-farmer narrative. As the Yashwantrao Chavan auditorium echoed with whistles and cheers, it became highly evident that the government’s strategy of pairing mega populist waivers with big-ticket rural dreams is striking a powerful chord with the state’s agrarian voters.

All Is Well: A Journey Through Faith, Nature, Survival

Between the beauty of the Himalayas and the terror of a landslide, we learnt that faith, courage, and providence walked with us when nature tested our limits.

In the previous article, I shared how our journey began at Govindghat, with a scenic trek leading us to Ghangaria, the base camp for the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib. That beautiful walk set the stage for the unforgettable experiences that lay ahead.


Here, we continue the trek as I take you back to some of the thrilling moments we experienced in 1998.


During the trek, our guide shared a warning that stayed with me. He said that some flowers in the Valley of Flowers, such as the Himalayan blue poppy, are poisonous and so toxic that even their fragrance can be hazardous. We were strictly told to return before sunset. Although I didn’t fully grasp the seriousness of the situation then, I followed every instruction, staying close to my parents.


As we walked, I was overwhelmed by the view. Wildflowers in every imaginable colour spread across the valley, carpeting the land in vibrant hues. It was the first time I had seen such abundance and beauty. In that moment, I felt the greatest artist is God, as if divine hands had painted the earth into a living masterpiece.

Our group moved steadily forward and soon reached Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara, located at approximately 15,200 feet, the world’s highest-altitude Gurudwara. I was awestruck. With no visible road or clear way to transport materials, its serene presence beside a lake that freezes in winter felt nothing short of miraculous.


Inside, the Gurudwara served langar to all visitors without distinction. We were given hot tea in large glasses, and as I warmed my hands, I took in the breathtaking surroundings. The silence, the mountains, and the sacred space merged into a moment of deep realisation.


That was when I truly understood a great truth of life: being close to nature brings unmatched peace, humility, and fulfilment. The journey didn’t just cross mountains and valleys; it quietly reshaped my inner world.


Many times during the trek, I felt like giving up and returning to the base camp. My body was exhausted, and my mind wavered. But I learnt an important lesson: a steady, moderate pace makes even the toughest journey manageable. My parents gently reminded me not to hurry, and I walked beside them. Those slow, encouraging moments remain among my most precious memories with them.


We were meant to be on this journey for nearly twelve days, and until then, everything had gone smoothly—until we were pressed to leave Malpa Village.


As we passed through this village, we faced a life-threatening incident. Malpa, a small village in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district, in the Kali Valley of the Kumaon Himalayas, is a known stop on the Kailash Mansarovar route. It later became infamous for the devastating landslide of August 18, 1998. Little did we know that our own experience there would shake us to the core.


The massive landslide struck as we were passing through a narrow mountain stretch. It was terrifying. About 24 of us were inside the bus when a huge rock suddenly rolled down and crashed onto it. For a moment, we truly believed the bus would be pushed into the valley below.


By God’s grace, it didn’t happen. Our driver showed remarkable presence of mind and skill, calmly accelerating the bus toward the safest stretch of road. In the chaos, my father and one of our group members, Anil Kaka, stepped out despite the danger to assess the road and guide the driver. Watching my father face such risk was one of the most frightening moments of my life.


Thankfully, their courage and clarity helped us move forward. The bus reached a safer stretch, and they climbed back inside. When we saw the damage—a massive dent on the roof where the rock had struck—it was a chilling reminder of how close we had come to disaster.


We didn’t stop and drove straight to Badrinath, shaken but safe. The next day, we heard the devastating news that Malpa village, which we had just crossed, was completely destroyed by the landslide. Many lives were lost, including the renowned Odissi dancer Protima Bedi and members of her group.


This news was really very heartbreaking for us. Also, at the same time, we were not able to contact our family because there was no phone connection. So we were really stressed…


That time we leaned forward, Lord Shiva in this beautiful temple, and were hoping to get things normal.


In the next article, we will continue this life-threatening real experience. So, stay tuned.

 

(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. She could be contacted at goglobalvoyages@gmail.com. Views personal.)

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