Saturday, July 12, 2008 (Sangola)
Sixteen districts and some villages in Maharashtra are hit with a drought-like situation, which has raised concerns for the state. It’s the middle of the monsoon and Sangola in Solapur district is still thirsting for it’s first drop of rain and it’s the second time in four years for Sangola. Three days ago, the state government declared a drought-like situation in 15 districts, all of them with less than 50 per cent rainfall. Some districts, like Solapur, are worse off, with only 10 per cent rainfall received since the monsoon broke.
For farmers like Sapote, it’s a double whammy. He had borrowed Rs 1 lakh for this pomegranate orchard and now the moneylenders are already knocking on his door.
”This year because there is no water our pomegranate orchard has been completely destroyed,” Sapote said.
The state’s Rural Development Minister Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil had little to say except express concern, this despite the fact that the drought in 2004 saw more than 10,000 heads of cattle perish.
The drought-like situation comes at a time when parts of the state are going through their worst agrarian crisis.
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