Maharashtra government extends fodder camp to three more districts

PUNE: After facing criticism for slow response to drought mitigation, the government of Maharashtra decided to open fodder camps in three more districts, taking the total number to six districts, all in the Marathwada region.

Maharashtra has received 55% rainfall while the storage in the reservoirs is 49%. According to the state's agriculture department, one third talukas in the state have received less than 50% rainfall.

Exceptionally scanty rainfall in the state has not only damaged the kharif crops, but has resulted in drinking water and fodder crisis. Earlier, state government had given permission to open fodder camps only in the three districts of Beed, Latur and Osmanabad.

In the backdrop of allegations of corruption in fodder camps during the rein of earlier NCP-congress regime, chief minister Devendra Fadanvis has been acting cautiously while opening the fodder camps. The cabinet decided to extend the fodder camps to Parbhani, Ahmednagar and Solapur.

However, the unsatisfied opposition is expected to launch its agitation from next week as they have demanded fodder camps in all the districts in western Maharashtra and Marathwada, which affected by drought.

Meanwhile, despite the recent rains, drought situation in the state remains severe. Of the 355 talukas in Maharashtra, 125 talukas have received less than 50% rainfall while 146 talukas have received between 50% to 75% rainfall. The water storage in all the reservoirs in the state is 49%, as compared to 72% during same period of previous year.

There are 12,859 employment guarantee works going on in the state, where 92,000 labourers have been working. More than 1600 villages and 3082 hamlets are getting water from water tankers.