Mumbai, October 1 (Daily Kiran) : The Maharashtra government has officially declared a drought across 265 talukas in the state, as announced by officials on October 1. Alongside these “Trigger-One” talukas, local representatives have urged the government to recognize drought conditions in an additional 19 talukas.
During a cabinet subcommittee meeting on Thursday, officials were instructed to conduct a 20% survey of the top five crops in these 19 talukas. This immediate ground-level survey aims to expedite the reporting process. The affected talukas include Nanded, Mudkhed, Mukhed, Ardhapur, Chandrapur, Jiwati, Brahmapuri, Ballarpur, Gondia, Amgaon, Deori, Salekasa, Wardha, Karanja, Bhandara, Mohadi, Tumsar, Nashik, Trimbakeshwar, Chandwad, Niphad, Satara, Patan, Sangli, Shirala, and Walwa.
In addition to the Trigger-One list, officials were also directed to gather local data to assess the severity of the drought in other impacted areas. The government emphasized the urgent need to complete crop loss assessments, ensure fodder for livestock, maintain a steady supply of drinking water, and keep local administrations on high alert.
Nationalized banks will receive directives to strictly adhere to the Reserve Bank of India’s guidelines concerning the government’s drought resolution. Furthermore, the cooperation department has been instructed to prevent private and district central cooperative banks from forcibly recovering loans from residents in drought-affected regions.
The animal husbandry department must ensure adequate fodder availability for livestock in the coming months. To effectively address fodder shortages, officials are encouraged to consider alternatives, including silo management, which involves supplying fodder from surplus areas to those facing shortages. Actionable measures are expected to be implemented within 15 days.
The meeting also reviewed strategies to mitigate water shortages in severely drought-affected regions. If larger water tankers face challenges in supplying water at the village level, the deployment of smaller tankers will be prioritized.
Officials were tasked with maintaining coordination among various departments to ensure timely assistance reaches farmers, livestock, and residents. All administrative officers and staff in the declared drought areas have been instructed to remain at their headquarters to ensure the smooth operation of the administrative machinery throughout the drought period.
In response to the statewide drought conditions, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has placed its technical team on high alert. Strict orders have been issued to all engineers, operators, and line staff to remain at their headquarters to facilitate the implementation of the state government’s drought relief measures. A recent circular was issued by MSEDCL’s Director of Operations, Dhananjay Aundhekar.
Since June, Maharashtra has experienced a significant rainfall deficit, leading to drought-like conditions and damage to agricultural crops. In light of this serious situation, the state government has announced various relief measures.
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