The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr Prithviraj Chavan, would be meeting the Prime Minster, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday, seeking a Rs 2,281-crore relief package and five lakh tonnes of foodgrains for fighting drought-like situation in some parts of the State.
According to a State Government press statement, Mr Chavan along with a delegation will apprise Dr Singh about the situation in the 15 most affected districts, which fall in Vidarbha, Khandesh and Marathwada region.
Under the package, farmers who have lost crops in the Kharif and Rabi season would be given Rs 782 crore; another Rs 700 crore would be earmarked for drought relief; while Rs 300 crore would be allocated for erecting check dams in the State.
In the affected districts, camps have been created for supplying green fodder to the farm animals. Farmers, who have suffered damage to their grape, pomegranate, orange and sweet lime orchards would be given Rs 8,000 a hectare as compensation, the statement said.
There are 6,201 villages across the State with severe water scarcity. In such villages, temporary water supply through tankers is being made. Recovery of agriculture loans has been suspended and about 33 per cent discount is being given on electricity bills, the release added.