Maharshtra cabinet has formally announced drought in 123 of the total 355 talukas on the state where the ranfall is below 50 per cent and sowing is also below 50 per cent.
The state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan would lead a delegation to seek financial assistance of over Rs 4,000 crore from the empowered group of ministers led by union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar. The EGoM is expected to meet on Friday.
State cabinet held a marathon meeting on Wednesday to discuss the present drought conditions across the state.
The state has so far received only 82 per cent compared to 98 per cent during the corresponding period last year while the water level in reservoirs has been meree 52 per cent.
A state government official told Business Standard "The EGoM has so far announced Rs 500 crore for drinking water purpose. This apart the state government has spent more than Rs 300 crore in this regard and Rs 275 crorer on the employment guarantee scheme. The cabinet at its meeting decided to effectively tackle the present situation and take all possible measures to provide relief in the drought hit areas."
The government has already decided to close down fodder depots instead operate fodder camps in drought hit areas.
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The official recalled that the state government had earlier prepared master plan for seeking financial assistance of Rs 2,857 crore from the EGoM.
However, Pawar subsequently asked the state government to revise the plan by making short term, medium term and long term categories of fund requirement.
The rural development minister Jairam Ramesh had already accepted state government's plea to increase number of days to 150 from 100 under the employment guaerantee scheme.