Maharashtra announces ‘drought’ in 180 talukas chalking out eight schemes to provide relief in affected areas

Mumbai, October 26: With a considerable percentage of rainfall in states amounted a fair situation of water conservation, the northern belt of Maharashtra has faced the dreadful outcome of drought. The Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared drought situation in 180 talukas of the state. The list includes regions like Marathwada, Vidarbha and Northern Maharashtra. The state cabinet has also announced eight schemes to provide relief in the affected areas. 

The relief measures include orders on drinking water measures, children’s school fees rebate, settlement of farmers’ debt and the continuation of power connections for agriculture were also issued to cope with the drought situation. It is said that the central government will announce help to tide over the problem after inspection.

 

Earlier, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that around 200 talukas in Maharashtra are facing “scarcity-like” conditions where two senior ministers were asked to submit a report on this. The farmers, under the banner of Shetkari Sangharsh Samiti, had earlier written two letters to the IMD, alleging that because of the Met department’s inaccurate forecast they were facing losses.

According to figures of the water resources department, most parts of Marathwada had received average rainfall this monsoon and the water stock in the region stands at just 28.81%. The Jayakwadi dam, considered lifeline of Marathwada, has around 45.88 % water stock as of earlier last month, compared to 87.63% the same day last year. Out of nine major dams in the Marathwada region, two have dried up and there is an average 28.81% water stock in the other dams. In the Amravati division of western Vidarbha, there is an average water stock of 57.37% in dams, while in the Nagpur division in east Vidarbha, it is 50.02%.