Maharashtra govt gets Rs588 crore drought relief from Centre

The centre has sanctioned Rs588 crore as a relief measure in the 15 drought-hit districts of the state, announced relief and rehabilitation minister Patangrao Kadam here on Tuesday. The money will be released soon, he added.

Following the state’s demand of Rs1,500 crore towards the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF), a central committee visited a few of the affected tehsils across the state and recommended an assistance of Rs1083 crore. However, the centre has sanctioned Rs588 crore for now. Kadam said, the funds allotted by the central government will be distributed as per the set norms.

Earlier, a delegation led by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had met prime minister Manmohan Singh with the demand for a relief package for the drought-hit regions. Apart from the relief fund, the state had also demanded Rs1200 crore as last year’s dues towards the central fund of Accelared Irigation Benefit Programme.

As per the state figures, 15 districts are hit by the drought and are being supplied with tanker water. Over 56,700 hamlets and 1,489 villages are being provided with the water tankers, while 16 fodder shelters have been facilitating the feeding of cattle.