Mumbai: State Government Preps Amid Water Shortage And Crop Loss Threat

Mumbai, 23rd August 2023: In response to widespread rain and the impending water shortage crisis, the state government is initiating proactive measures to manage resources effectively. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed district collectors to strategize water allocation, considering dam storage and aiming for its optimal utilisation. The focus is on combating the critical water scarcity situation by streamlining preparations from the outset.

In regions facing consecutive rainless days, a potential crop loss looms large. Shinde, concerned about the situation, has also urged appropriate action in facilitating compensation to farmers through crop insurance in a meeting attended by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Revenue Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Gulabrao Patil, and others. In this meeting, ministers evaluated the severity of the water crisis in the state.

While Konkan and Nagpur divisions experienced light rain over the last two days, Nashik, Pune, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Latur, and Amravati remain without rainfall. According to the Agriculture Department, 15 tahsils received 25 to 50 percent rainfall, 108 tahsils received 50 to 75 percent rainfall, and 138 tahsils received up to 75 to 100 percent rainfall. A notable 94 tahsils in the state have experienced over 100 percent rainfall. Sowing activities have covered 138.4 lakh hectares, with considerable progress in districts like Yavatmal, Jalgaon, Beed, Nanded, and Buldhana.

Acknowledging the urgency, 350 villages and 1319 wadis are receiving drinking water through 369 tankers to alleviate the water-scarcity situation in the district. The Meteorological Department projects a promising comeback of rain in September; however, its utility for the crops remains uncertain. With 231 circles experiencing a 21-day rain hiatus, crop distress prevails, mandating insurance compensation criteria.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has directed district collectors to allocate funds from the District Planning Development Fund for seeds, promoting fodder production. Additionally, he emphasised the immediate expenditure of funds to address the repercussions of low rainfall, underlining the government’s proactive stance in tackling water scarcity and safeguarding agricultural interests in the face of unpredictable weather patterns.