Another 81 villages in Gujarat declared 'scarcity-affected'

Gujarat Government today declared 81 more villages as 'scarcity-affected' owing to acute water shortage there, an official press release said.

With this latest addition, the total number of scarcity-affected villages in Gujarat has reached 1,347.

The decision to put these 81 villages of Porbandar district in 'affected' category was taken at a meeting of a sub-committee of ministers formed to assess the scarcity situation. The committee is headed by education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama.

Measures are being taken to provide water and cattle-fodder in affected regions, the government stated.

As many as 509 villages and 1,042 adjoining localities across Gujarat are getting water through tankers at present.