State to draw Rs 2,000 crore to tackle drought

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday decided to draw an additional Rs 2,000 crore from the state contingency fund (CF) to undertake drought-relief measures in 151 tehsils that have been declared as drought-hit. The decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mantralaya on Tuesday. The government can now withdraw Rs 2,150 crore for drought mitigation. The contingency fund has a limit of Rs 150 crore for each year.

Officials said that this is a temporary arrangement made from time to time to draw funds to support the drought-affected people. The funds will be used for basic support like supplying water tankers and other programmes to be undertaken to tackle water scarcity till June.

An official from chief minister office (CMO) said that Kharif crops in 2018 had been badly damaged owing to the natural conditions. Drought has been declared in 151 talukas. The affected farmers of these talukas will be helped immediately; hence Rs 2,000 crore has been deposited to the CF.

D.K. Jain, chief secretary of the state said that total 9,000 crores would be needed for the drought relief measures in the state. Around Rs 2,900 crores had already been sanctioned in the last week. On Tuesday, the state handed over Rs 2,000 crore from its coffer for the drought relief. Thus, 4,900 crores have been earmarked by the state for the same. The Central government had already sanctioned Rs 4,714 crore for the drought mitigation.