When he put in an appearance in Shirdi this Saturday, the Chief Minister did so by train. He has been quick to point out that it is his way of heeding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent words on the value of conservation. In a sense, it is as much about the message as the means of getting there.
The Vande Bharat was the mode of transport from Mumbai to Shirdi. From there, he will be at the Nibe Defence Production Complex for its opening with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in tow, making for a public statement on mobility as well as an industrial one.
Why the train ride is significant
You have to look no further than the 10 May address in Secunderabad for context. The Prime Minister made it clear he wants people to think twice before they spend or consume. By forgoing the road or a flight for a fast rail service, Fadnavis is putting a visible stamp on that idea.
Modi’s pitch was aimed at the kind of choices we make in our day-to-day lives. Some of what he put on the table:
– A year without going abroad
– Make work from home your first option
– Hold off on buying gold you don’t need
– Be more careful with fuel
– Go for Swadeshi when you can
– Use less cooking oil
– Get back to natural farming
State action on organised crime allegations
Fadnavis was blunt with the press: for the first time, the state is using the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act to go after the kind of offences you see with cow smuggling, unauthorised cattle transport and illegal abattoirs.
He was confident the move would hold up in court. It is a sign that the state is not afraid to put some new muscle into its enforcement where it counts.
El Nino risks and monsoon readiness
As for the weather, the government has its plans in place. “We have a full plan for El Nino,” Fadnavis said. “Some areas could see a lot of rain, and we have the precautions in order for that.”
He has made no secret of the fact that El Nino is a major worry heading into the kharif season. With sub-normal rainfall in the forecast, the state has put the pedal to the metal on Jalyukt Shivar works. He has told the district administrations to be on it and to be smart with water come harvest time.
Water conservation push
Jalyukt Shivar is the name of the game right now. It is a matter of making sure we can store what we have and protect against drought. The focus is on the farm and in the villages to see us through the kharif with the kind of rains we are likely to get.
What to watch next
There is more to the Vande Bharat trip than just the photo op. If you listen to the Chief Minister, he is drawing a line between two things: a no-nonsense approach to crime and making sure the state can deal with a fickle climate. They both come down to how you use your resources, much like the PM has been saying.
Later in Shirdi, he will be with Rajnath Singh for the Nibe complex inauguration. But with the kharif upon us and a dry year in the cards, it is the state’s water and preparedness plans that will be doing the heavy lifting on the ground.
