Pune: Collector Bans Fodder Transport Outside District Amid Drought Concerns In Eight Talukas

Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi has imposed a ban on the transport and sale of fodder outside the district to avoid a potential shortage for livestock in the face of drought conditions affecting eight talukas. The directive, issued on October 14, prohibits the movement of all types of fodder from Pune district to other regions within Maharashtra.

This restriction includes sorghum stalks, chopped fodder, and straw. The ban follows the declaration of Bhor, Velhe, Khed, Shirur, Baramati, Indapur, Daund, and Purandar as drought-affected. The district administration warned that large quantities of fodder could be transported to other districts or neighboring areas, leading to a shortage for local livestock in the coming months.

Jitendra Dudi, who also chairs the District Disaster Management Authority, issued the preventive order to safeguard fodder availability and prevent potential law and order issues arising from a shortage. The ban will remain in effect until further notice and includes legal action against violators under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Government-authorized fodder transport, as well as that authorized by the Animal Husbandry Department or the district administration, are exempted. However, the measure aims to ensure livestock in the district have sufficient fodder during the drought period. The restriction may impact fodder traders selling to buyers outside Pune district, although the administration has not disclosed the volume of fodder currently transported or the severity of any existing shortage.

The eight talukas declared drought-affected include Bhor, Velhe, Khed, Shirur, Baramati, Indapur, Daund, and Purandar. The ban is a preventive measure to maintain supplies within the district, rather than an indication that Pune has already depleted its fodder stocks. Maharashtra is also grappling with broader drought concerns, with various districts, such as Solapur and Chandrapur, implementing similar restrictions.

The Pune district administration has directed the immediate implementation of the order and has not announced a separate timeline for reviewing the restriction.