The empowered group of ministers (EGoM) on drought, chaired by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, today gave in-principle approval for a Rs 2,519-crore package to Maharashtra to tackle drought-like situation in the state.
The package is part of the total demand of Rs 4,919 crore the state had proposed and would address issues such as availability of drinking water, fodder and irrigation works.
Due to rainfall delay of around 50 days, 191 talukas have received less than 75 per cent of normal rain in the state.
Pawar, who was accompanied by Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, after meeting Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and state ministers and officials, told reporters the EGoM had approved Rs 167 crore in addition to the already approved Rs 200 crore for water supply schemes.
He said the state government has been asked to give a memorandum seeking government assistance at the earliest, instead of waiting for December.
The EGoM has in-principle approved the Maharashtra government's plea for relaxation of certain norms and guidelines in getting relief packages during drought conditions.
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Further, Pawar said the state government has been asked for a detailed list of irrigation projects which can be completed in the short term and long term by seeking funds under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme.
Ramesh said the EGoM had also in-principle agreed to state government's plea for increasing days to 150 from 100 in the notified talukas under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. He said the Centre had already approved labour budget of Rs 1,536 crore for 2012-13 for Maharashtra and it would be open to provide more funds considering the present scarcity conditions.
Chavan said the government would send a revised proposal seeking assistance from the Centre for various relief works. He said the state had pleaded for more funds under the Accelerated Fodder Development Programme, National Mission on Micro Irrigation, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, National Rural Drinking Water Programme and Repair Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies.