The state government has declared drought in 151 talukas and 250 revenue circles in the state.
A team of senior government officials from the Centre is set to arrive today in Maharashtra for a 3-day visit to drought-affected areas in the state. The team — comprising of eight state and four Central government officials — will visit drought-hit areas in Marathwada, North Maharashtra, and Western Maharashtra. A meeting with state officials will also be held after the assessment before the team returns on December 7 to New Delhi.
The state government has declared drought in 151 talukas and 250 revenue circles in the state. It is following the state's request for drought relief worth Rs 7,522 crore from the Centre through the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) that the team has been sent for assessment.
A senior official of the state government said that the team will be split into three in order to ensure that all areas in the list are covered within the decided time frame. The team will submit its report to the Centre, which will take a call on the state government's memorandum seeking financial relief.
More than 60 per cent of farmers in the state has been hit by drought this year. A total of 76,367 hectares of land belonging to 83 lakh farmers from 151 talukas and over 250 revenue circles has been affected due to the drought.
From the relief package of Rs 7,522 crores, Rs 500 crore has been sought for cattle fodder and Rs 300 crores for providing water tankers. A government official said that the rest of the relief package will be used to offer compensation to farmers who have lost their standing crop due to the drought.
GROUND SITUATION
The team — comprising of eight state and four Central government officials — will visit drought-hit areas in Marathwada, North Maharashtra, and Western Maharashtra
A meeting with state officials will also be held after the assessment before the team returns on December 7 to New Delhi
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