State seeks Rs 13k cr to fight drought

JUSTIFIES AMOUNT BY HIGHLIGHTING LOSSES FROM A DISASTROUS KHARIF SEASON IN A pointer to the gravity of drought affecting parts of the state, the Maharashtra government has demanded a hefty assistance of Rs 13,400 crore from the Union government for relief measures. The funds would primarily be used to tackle scarcity of water and fodder, for works under the employment guarantee scheme, and to ensure availability of essential commodities and foodgrain through the public distribution system.      The state Cabinet last week approved a comprehensive plan to contain the fallout of the drought, but decided to rope in the Union government as well. In its representation to the Centre for assistance, the state has also taken into account the possible drop in its kharif and rabi yields due to scanty rains.      "On the face of it, the Central assistance we are seeking may look huge, but we have got to make a provision for future losses as well. Much of the kharif season is over, and a revival of monsoon, if it happens, won't make a bigdifference now," said an official with the agriculture department, who requested anonymity.      Meanwhile, the number of villages in the crisis zone continues to rise. The state has declared another 48 tehsils scarcity-hit. With this, of the 353 tehsils in the state, 221 have been placed in the scarcity-zone. A majority of the 48 tehsils are in Amravati, Akola, Washim, and Buldana districts of Vidarbha. Villages in Nashik and Ahmednagar districts have also been added to the list.      A less-than-average rainfall and a drop in water storage levels in state-owned reservoirs have created an alarming situation in several regions of the state. Marathwada represents the crisis, with six tehsils in Aurangabad division receiving less than 50% of their normal rainfall, another nine getting less than 60%, and seven registering between 60% and 80% rainfall. All these tehsils constitute the kharif crop region in Aurangabad, thus making it clear that the division faces a steep drop in yields.      The scenario in Marathwada's Latur division is even grimmer. Of its 35 kharif tehsils, as many as 28 have recorded less than 50% rainfall. Another four have received only 50% to 60% rains. In Amravati division of Vidarbha, 16 of the 56 kharif tehsils are critical, and nine others are on the periphery of the danger mark. Only four tehsils in Amravati have got in excess of 100% rains.      Both in Marathwada and Vidarbha deficient rains have put in jeopardy the estimated returns from the cash crops, cotton and soyabean. "In addition, there are other kharif and rabi crops which, though not as commercial as cotton and soyabean, may suffer due to lack of adequate rains. Damage to the other crops is also serious, since farmers turned to them after they realised that cotton and soyabean were going to take a hit," the official quoted earlier said.  TAKING STOCK  221  TEHSILS IN STATE DECLARED DROUGHT-HIT  6  AURANGABAD TEHSILS FACING SEVERE DROUGHT  16  CRITICAL TEHSILS IN AMRAVATI DIVISION  28  KHARIF TEHSILS IN LATUR FACING SEVERE DROUGHT