The High-Level Committee for central assistance to states affected by natural calamity has approved an assistance of Rs 778.09 crore for Maharashtra. The committee, which met in New Delhi today under the chairmanship of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, also approved Rs 526.06 crore drought assistance to Karnataka.
Today's decision is quite crucial when the Congress-NCP government is struggling to tackle the severe drought conditions in 145 out of total 353 talukas of Maharashtra. Scarcity has been announced in 6,250 villages due to low rainfall. The government has launched multiple programmes, including animal camps, drinking water supply through tankers, works under the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Scheme. The government has also sought help from Karnataka to release some water especially to provide relief to the border districts.
Maharashtra has experienced a sequential drought phenomenon over the past 24 months impacting kharif 2011, Rabi-2011-12 and Kharif 2012. The state government had initially declared drought in 122 taluks in 25 districts which was subsequently revised to 125 talukas in 16 districts and now 145 talukas. The state government submitted a memorandum seeking financial assistance from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
An inter-ministerial central team led by RB Sinha, joint secretary visited Maharashtra during November 21 and 23 last year for assessing drought situation during kharif 2012 and submitted its recommendation to the Inter-Ministerial Group constituted under the chairmanship of agriculture secretary. IMG held its meeting on December 21 and recommended assistance to the High-Level Committee held today.
