Maharashtra Drought: Yield of Kharif Crop Drop by 50% in Marathwada Region, Rs 3k Crore Relief Package Required, Says Report

Mumbai, December 20: Aurangabad Divisional Commissioner, in a report submitted to Maharashtra state, has said that the yield in the region has been half of what it should be, due to the drought in the region. A report in English daily Mumbai Mirror said that over 85 per cent of Marathwada region is reeling under drought and that the yield of kharif crop in over 7,000 villages has been less than 50 per cent. Maharashtra Government Declares Drought in 151 Tehsils, Check Full List.

The basis of this information is the final yield report sent to the state government by Aurangabad's divisional commissioner to the state government on Monday. Drought in Maharashtra: State Government Declares Drought in 180 Tehsils; Jalgaon, Ahmednagar Among Worst Affected.

The report further adds that all the other districts in the region with the exception of Hingoli has been badly affected by drought. The report has estimated the relief cost for the region at a staggering Rs 3,000 crore.

Maharashtra this year has received below average rainfall and the government has already declared drought in 151 out of 358 talukas. Hundreds of people affected by drought in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra are now working at firecracker stalls in Pune city during the Diwali festival with a hope to earn a livelihood.

An estimated 3,000 people have found jobs at these temporary outlets set up across the city during the festive season, an association of firecracker stalls here claimed. Maharashtra witnessed a deficient monsoon this year following which the state government recently declared drought in 151 talukas in 26 of the total 36 districts in the state. (With Agency Inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 20, 2018 04:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).