Drought condition in 15 Maha districts deteriorating: Minister

Painting a bleak picture, Maharashtra government today said as many as 11,000 villages in the state are affected by drought, whereas the condition in around 15 districts is deteriorating.

Maharashtra Co-operative Minister Harshavardhan Patil appealed to industrial and co-operative sectors to contribute to improve the situation.

"1,800 tankers have been pressed into service to supply water in the drought-affected regions," Patil said.

He said the issue came up for discussion in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today.

"Chief Secretary J K Banthia has informed that a Central team has landed in the state to assess drought situation," the minister said.