Maha govt chalks out plans to fight drought

Maharashtra government is set to revive rivers in rural areas as part of its efforts to save the state reeling under drought. Water Conservation Minister Pankaja Munde said the river revival plan will be prepared by the Maharashtra Water Conservation Corporation and the focus will be to revive the rivers in drought and farmer-suicide prone areas. "Maharashtra Water Conservation Corporation has been asked to prepare the master plan," she said.

The Minister said after the Jalyukt Shivar yogana, revival of rivers in rural areas will be a major campaign of the department. "In the last few days, rains have created good water storage in the Jalyukt shivars," she said. Munde noted that water conservation works should be taken up in areas on priority basis, i.e. where there is water scarcity, low human development index, decreasing water table and areas that are perennially drought prone. "Water conservation department should focus on areas where water from irrigation dams cannot be reached," she added.