Farmers in
Vidarbha ( Maharashtra / India
) have been committing suicides by the hundreds over the last few years – 42 /
day , as per one estimate ( 250,000 in last 16 years ! )
Reason ?
They have
no money to repay the loans that they have taken from the banks
( Silly !
Politicians and Businessmen – whether Indian or European – never repay their
loans ! Nor commit suicide ! )
Why don’t
farmers have money ?
Because
there is no water to grow their crops
Why there
is no water ?
Because
there are no dams to hold the water
Why there
are no dams ?
Because
corrupt Government officials and contractors just don’t want to complete the
construction of dams !
Times of India ( 08
June, 2012 ) reports following figures for the number of years by which some of
the dam projects have got delayed,
Ø Warna Irrigation………………………… 45 years
Ø Chaskamam………………………………. 38 years
Ø Kadavi……………………………………….. 35 years
Ø Chikotra…………………………………….. 35 years
Ø Patgaon……………………………………….34 years
No wonder
project costs have gone up by 2,000 %
to 7,000 % !
In the
meantime , for the last few months ,the only “ Life or Death “ matter that has
occupied the minds of our politicians is ,
“ Who
should be our next President ? “
How long
will Mother India continue to cry ?
Hemen Parekh