With Kharif production in Maharashtra declining drastically following a long dry spell during the second half of the monsoon between August and September, the State government has demanded an aid of ₹7,962 cr from the Central government to tackle drought.
A Central government team is conducting visits to examine the drought situation. Some13,984 villages in 252 tehsils are facing major water crisis, said Maharashtra Agriculture Commissioner Eknath Davale while making a presentation before the team headed by Chhavi Jha, Joint Secretary with the Central Department of agriculture. About 60 per cent of Maharashtra’s farmers have been hit by drought, according to the State government.
State officials informed the team that the drought situation is likely to worsen in all six divisions — Konkan, Nashik, Pune, Aurangabad, Amravati and Nagpur. Along with water, the State is facing a major challenge to provide fodder, said Davale. He added that the State government will require ₹202.53 crore for plying water tankers in scarcity-hit areas and ₹535 crore to open fodder camps across the State.
According to the State government’s assessment, about 66.81 lakh hectares of non-irrigated land cultivated by 62 lakh farmers and 14.97 lakh hectares irrigated land cultivated by15.59 lakh farmers are facing major water and fodder crisis. About 3.97 lakh hectares of horticulture on which 4.55 lakh farmers are dependent is also hit by drought.
The Central team divided into three squads visited drought-affected villages and held discussions with farmers and villagers. “Even earlier teams had visited, but nothing happened. There is no water and fodder. We are finding it difficult to survive,” villagers in Gangapur taluks of Aurangabad district told the visiting team.