Dedicated funding needed for drought-prone areas in Mah: Kadam

Talking to reporters after a meeting with district collectors and divisional commissioners, Kadam felt that there funds can be cut for other schemes to ensure that there is no shortage of money for the drought-prone regions.

Kadam said some of the collectors told him during the video conference that there was a shortage of fodder in few talukas of their districts. "The issue would be discussed in tomorrow's cabinet meeting," he said.

At present, there are 146 fodder depots and 52,000 metric tonnes of fodder has already been distributed and approximately Rs eight crore have been spent.

The minister said that water scarcity was the most severe in Ahmednagar, Satara, Sangli and Solapur districts. As many as 1,088 villages and 5,013 hamlets in 15 drought-hit districts are being supplied drinking water through tankers. About Rs 20 crore had been spent on deployment of tankers in these areas.

Similarly, 120 water supply schemes had been sanctioned, out of which, work on 44 schemes was in progress. He said Rs 31 crore had been spent on water supply schemes.

The government had paid arrears to the tune of Rs 4.33 crore to restore electricity connections, which were permanently snapped due to non-payment of dues.

"Due to this, 292 water tankers were discontinued and electricity connection to 289 schemes was connected," he said.

According to the minister, additional Rs 10 crore was required for this purpose.