Mumbai: Keeping in view the seriousness of the drought in Maharashtra, the state government will provide fodder and water to the five existing cattle shelters (gaushalas) in water-scarce regions.
Relief and rehabilitation minister Chandrakant Patil said that the government has decided to disburse Rs 2,900 crore for drought relief in the next days. However, the Centre has not responded to a request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the chief minister in Solapur for a drought relief fund.
The sub-committee headed by Mr Patil held a weekly meeting on drought relief in Mantr-alaya on Wednesday.
He also said that the government has taken a decision to release half of the relief fund. The funds will be disbursed to farmers’ accounts via collectors.
According to the rules, farmers get around Rs 6,400 per hectare as compensation. With the state government’s decision, half of the amount will be transferred to the accounts of farmers from drought-declared areas.
The state had annou-nced a drought in 151 tehsils initially and the Centre’s package will be used for those areas only.
