India's central government has set up an inter-ministerial team to assess the drought in Maharashtra, where 265 of the state's 358 talukas have been declared drought-affected after a shortfall in rain, Rural Voice reports. The team will visit affected areas, assess crop losses, water availability and the wider impact on farmers, and then recommend relief and rehabilitation measures.
It is headed by Muktanand Agrawal, joint secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and includes representatives of 10 central departments and agencies, among them the finance and agriculture departments and NITI Aayog. It will judge the severity of the drought and recommend assistance from the central and state disaster response funds, along with immediate interventions and longer-term rehabilitation.
Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne said the team would work with the state government and report to the Centre after seeing the situation on the ground. He had raised the farmers' difficulties at a recent rabi season review meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Delhi and asked for an early central visit.
The move follows an interim report from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking help under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday; according to Shinde, Modi asked about water and fodder availability and crop damage and assured central support.
The state declared drought in the 265 talukas on 26 September, nearly 74% of its talukas, after inadequate rain. It estimates that a large part of Maharashtra is under drought stress with extensive crop damage, and says it will keep pressing the Centre for relief for farming communities.
Source: Rural Voice
Comments
(0)