Maharashtra Government Declares Drought in 151 Tehsils, Check Full List

Mumbai, October 31: The Maharashtra government on Wednesday declared a drought in 151 tehsils of the state, covering nearly half of the total administrative units. The announcement comes a week after the Cabinet selected 181 tehsils, which witnessed more than 30 per cent deficient rainfall as compared to the long-term average.

With the drought being officially declared, the relief measures are likely to follow to mitigate the agrarian and drinking-water crisis. Most of the affected tehsils fall in the interiors of Maharashtra, in the regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada. Farmers Threaten Pune IMD with Letters! Say Will Lock Office if Monsoon Prediction Goes Wrong.

Notably, the two regions had faced prolonged droughts in 2014 and 2015, leading to the suicides of over 5,000 farmers. A severe drinking water-shortage was also reported, with the government being forced to procure potable water from neighbouring states.

Check Full List of Tehsils in Maharashtra Where Drought Has Been Declared:

A central government team would also be visiting the 151 tehsils, to assess the level of drought and the amount of financial assistance which should be disbursed by the Centre.

The decision to declare drought is based on a report submitted by Maharashtra's water and sanitation department, which claimed that 197 tehsils in the state received less than normal rainfall in 2018.

Of such tehsils, 27 recorded more than 50 per cent deficit rainfall, 109 between 30-50 per cent and 61 between 20-30 per cent deficit in rainfall. Around 86 tehsils have received nearly 20 per cent deficit rainfall -- which is considered normal by the Indian Meteorological Department.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 31, 2018 08:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).