Mumbai, June 20: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday heaped praises on JalYukt Shivar Abhiyaan, which promised drought-free Maharashtra by 2019, and said that his government have reduced farm dependency on rain.

"Only because of JalYukt Shivar we have been able to increase crop productivity and survive in less rainfall. We have reduced farm dependency on rain and also on the gap between two rainfalls," the Chief Minister said in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during Monsoon session here."Production of soya bean has increased by 16 per cent and cotton production by 17 per cent. Maharashtra Drought Relief: Centre Provides Over Rs 4000 Core, Devendra Fadnavis Thanks PM Narendra Modi.

Many villages are getting benefits under JalYukt Shivar. In Latur, the dependency of water tankers have decreased due to this project," he said.The project, launched by Maharashtra government four years ago, involves deepening and widening of streams, construction of cement and earthen stop dams, work on nullahs and digging of farm ponds.

Earlier, Fadnavis had said that Rs 4,700 crore has been given as drought assistance while Rs 3,300 crore has been disbursed as crop insurance by the government."Maharastra currently is facing severe drought conditions with just 7 per cent of water left for consumption which has affected the lives of the people. The opposition leaders have said that they would corner the government on the issues drought relief works in the state.