Maharashtra forms cabinet sub-committee to tackle Marathwada drought crisis

MUMBAI: In view of the grim drought situation in Marathwada region, Maharashtra government today set up a cabinet sub-committee to prepare an action plan to tackle the crisis.

The decision to set up the committee, to be headed by Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse, was taken at the weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today.

Also comprising water supply minister Babanrao Lonikar, rural development minister Pankaja Munde and finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, the sub-committee has been empowered to monitor the water scarcity situation and take decisions accordingly, an official said.

"We discussed if drinking water can be transported through railway from the Ujani dam. Similarly, plans are afoot to grow green grass on open government land, agriculture university land so that fodder is available throughout the year," Khadse said.

Talking to reporters after the sub-committee meet, Khadse said Beed, Osmanabad and Latur in Marathwada region are facing the worst crisis.

Maharashtra government is also planning to purchase fodder from other states, he said.

Earlier, the cabinet meeting took stock of the monsoon situation in the state.

The state has received an average of 61 per cent rain. There is 44 per cent water storage, out of which in Marathwada there is only seven per cent and 87 per cent area has been covered by sowing.

According to Khadse, GPS will be made mandatory for tankers supplying drinking water to avoid malpractices.

Similarly, employment will be made available on EGS and Jalyukta Shivar (a scheme meant for water conservation), he said.

Khadse said cloud seeding (a form of artificial rainfall) will continue and villages of Ambika Nagar, Kasar, Mangewadi, Loni, Warni in Beed district had received 6 mm of rainfall after the cloud seeding was done.