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Maharashtra Cabinet declares water scarcity in 128 towns in the state

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Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has said that due to delayed rains and depleting water levels, a drought-like situation has been declared in 123 towns of Maharashtra state.

While announcing some major decisions taken by the state cabinet on Wednesday, Chavan said, “There has been an average of 68% rainfall in the state in the month of August. Whereas, 18 districts have witnessed less than 50% rainfall.” 

“The region of Marathwada, including Buldhana, Washim and Yavatmal district of Maharahtra have received below 50% rainfall. Currently, there is only 61% water storage in the state reservoirs compared to last year's 73%, while the Marathwada region has only 19% water storage left,” he added.

Considering the water crisis in Vidharbha and Marathwada region, the government has decided to provide a 33% concession on farm pump electricity bills as well as exempt exam fees of the students in the region. 

Meanwhile, the state cabinet has also accepted the reservation demand made by the Dhangar community. The Dhangar community had been agitating since the last few weeks demanding reservation and had even resorted to throwing ink on state Cooperative Minister Harshvardhan Patil. Though the reservation has been given outside the Adivasi (Schedule Tribe) quota, the Chief Minister said, “The reservation should come under the third list and for that the state government will make a recommendation to the Centre." Taking a serious note of the ink thrown on the cooperative minister he said, “The state assembly condemns the incident and a through probe has been ordered.” 

Other major decisions taken by the cabinet: 

- National Urban Livelihood Mission to be implemented in 53 cities.This mission is meant for urban poor and street vendors.

- State cabinet to form a committee under Minister Dilip Sopal to study the reservation demand of the Lingayat Community.

- Nod for increasing capacity of bagasse based co-generation, government targets an increase of 1000 MW production.

- Temporary dental surgeons to be made permanent through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission.

- Bonded service compulsory for medical students in the state.

- State cabinet decides to implement Maharashtra Suvarnjayanti Nagarothhan Mission in all Nagar parishads, Panchayats and D class corporations.

- Decision taken to hike honorarium amount by 1.5 times for elderly artists and litterateurs. The hike will be implemented from 15 August 2014 and around 23,300 artists at the local, regional and the state level will be benefited. The honorarium​ of national level 'A' grade artists has been increased from Rs 1,400 to Rs 2,100. 'B' grade state level artists will get an honorarium of Rs 1,800, while 'C' grade local artists will get Rs 1,500.  

- Approval given for Nashik and Nagar sub centers of the Savitribai Phule Pune University. 

- The cabinet also decided that it will be optional for Corporations to have the Local Body Tax or Octroi, after the BMC refused to implement the LBT. 

 

 

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