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The Maharashtra Government has decided to release Rs 250 crore for drought mitigation in the State. The funds would be primarily used for providing drinking water in rural areas and paying electricity bill arrears of the farmers.
Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Patangrao Kadam said providing drinking water and fodder for the animals was the top priority for the Government. The drought mitigation plan would be implemented in two phases — the first phase would be from January to March while the second would be from April to June, he said.
About Rs 47 crore have already been released so far and the State Government has declared 123 talukas as drought affected.
This year, the southwest monsoon has been deficient by eight per cent, affecting the sowing of kharif crops, including coarse cereals and pulses. States such as Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have been the worst affected.
Drinking water
A senior official of the Relief and Rehabilitation Department said that providing drinking water was a matter of utmost concern for the Government; therefore, railway wagons could also be used for carrying water to the affected areas. Steps would also be taken to ensure that power connection to the agricultural pump sets remained uninterrupted, the official said.
“Kharif crops have not given a good yield. Now, our efforts are on to save the Rabi crop,” the official said.
In about 7,000 villages in the State, the crop acreage has come down drastically. In large villages across Maharashtra, the State Government has started animal shelters that provide fodder for free.
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