Pune div collectors to send report on water scarcity

Deepak Mhaisekar, the Pune district divisional commissioner, has asked the collectors of all the five districts — Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur and Kolhapur — to submit details of the drought-affected tehsils in their respective areas by Thursday.
Mhaisekar said the report will be collated and forwarded to the state government and the official declaration of the drought-affected districts will be made after October 31.
Once the state government declares the districts as “drought-affected”, collectors will start carrying out relief measures in the affected tehsils.
“We have to follow all the guidelines and even the state government will grant funds accordingly.
The drought relief measures will be executed by the respective collectors and more water tankers will be pressed into service.
This apart nine scarcity-related schemes will be implemented,” said Mhaisekar following the chief minister’s review of various government schemes in Sangli district.
After the state’s report is released, a central team is also expected to review the situation and give the final assessment.
Almost half of Maharashtra is reeling under severe water scarcity and farmers from across the state are seeking emergency help.
Farmers said the state had received only 77% of its average rainfall this year.
Farmers, however, want the government to declare a complete drought in the state.

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