Maha govt declares 123 talukas water scarcity hit

Maharashtra government today declared as many as 123 talukas of a total 355 in the state as "scarcity hit" due to insufficient rains.
123 talukas in 11 districts have received less than 50 per cent rains, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting here.
"These districts include the entire Marathwada region and Buldhana, Washim and Yavatmal districts of Vidarbha," he said.
In August, the state has so far received 68 per cent of average rainfall.
There is 61 per cent storage in water reservoirs as compared to previous year's 73 per cent. However, in Marathwada region, the water storage is just 19 per cent.

Kharif crop sowing has been completed in 87 per cent of the kharif area.