Maharashtra government has launched a new programme named ‘Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan’ in a bid to make Maharashtra a drought-free state by 2019. The programme aims to make 5000 villages free of water scarcity every year.
“This Abhiyan aims at initiating permanent measures to make the state drought-free by 2019 and to harvest rainwater within the village boundaries, thereby increasing ground water levels,” said C Vidyasagar Rao, Governor.
Under the programme, micro-irrigation systems would be encouraged for proficient use of water, hence increasing the irrigated area. Government will be initially allocating Rs 1,000 crore for the scheme. Moreover, all the existing water conservation schemes will be now accumulated under this scheme.
With several parts of Maharashtra still reeling under the drought, the state government has launched the scheme to combat increasing number of suicide by the farmers of the state.
Maharashtra is a drought prone area, especially its region of Vidarbha and Marathwada. In 2014, Vidarbha was deficit by 14 per cent, while Marathwada was deficit by 42 per cent, putting both the regions in the category of drought.
Incidents of farmers’ suicide have become very common in these regions. High dependency on Monsoon rain is the biggest factor behind farmers taking this extreme step.
According to an English Daily, 986 cases of farmers suicide were reported from Maharashtra in 2014. In 2013, there were 11, 744 farmer suicides reported across the country out of which nearly 27% (3,146) – highest for any state - was from Maharashtra.
