Pawar assures Central aid to Maha govt to tackle drought

Pawar also sought separate proposals for relaxation of guidelines for Central funds to complete pending irrigation projects in final stages and those under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP).

Pawar, who heads the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought, held discussions with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and his senior cabinet colleagues to discuss immediate measures to mitigate drought and long-term programmes.

This was the first meeting of Pawar and Chavan after the recent week-long NCP-Congress stand-off, in which, NCP chief had stayed away from the official work.

EGoM member Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh was also present. The EGoM team will travel to Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana which have received less rain.

Chavan said 228 talukas have received insufficient rains so far out of which it is less than 50 per cent in 65 talukas.

"We sought Rs 2,857 crore package, out of which, Rs 1,000 crore was for drip irrigation and Rs 580 crore for construction of cement check dams. However, we will rework the proposal," Chavan added.

He said his government's strategy to mitigate drought will be two-fold. "Immediate relief for drought-affected areas this year and improving the water table by next year. Hence, we are focusing on water conservation, so that not a drop of rain water goes waste," he said. (More)