Maharashtra declares drought-like condition in 14,708 villages

Maharashtra Government has declared drought-like condition in 14,708 villages of the state’s total 43,000 villages.
This means the drought covers 34% of the state and these villages have receive inadequate rainfall in monsoon season 2015 leading to decrease in Kharif production.
The drought like condition was announced by a state Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by State Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse in Mumbai.
As a relief measure, the committee has decided to waive off college and school fees of students residing in these villages. Electricity bills of farmers using agricultural pumps also has been subsidised by one third of the total amount.
This is the second successive year Maharashtra has faced drought like condition in state. In fact, state has experienced three such natural calamities in the last four years.
Region wise Drought conditions

• Marathwada region: It has been worst-hit with a drought-like condition as it has been declared in every single village of this central region. Around 8,522 villages in the region have been impacted due to this natural calamity and accounts for 58% of the drought area in the state.
• North Maharashtra region: It includes Nashik and Jalgaon districts of state. In this region follows 4,869 villages impacted and accounts for 33% of the drought area.
• Konkan region: It has not a single village affected by the calamity and has region experienced a plentiful monsoon this year.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2015