Maharashtra drought: Governor's help sought

Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) Drought is affecting supply of potable water and cattle fodder in western Maharashtra and is hitting irrigation schemes, Governor K. Sankaranarayanan was told Friday.

A group of journalists from western Maharashtra called on the governor here and apprised him of the situation in the region. The drought was proving to be worse than what hit the Marathwada region in 1972, they said.

The delegation of 26 journalists, led by Navakaal editor Jayashree Khadiklar-Pande, accused the Maharashtra government of not tackling the drought which was affecting a large section of the state's population, and urged the governor to visit the worst-hit regions to assess the situation himself.

The journalists presented before the governor samples of contaminated water supplied by tankers, and samples of inedible cattle fodder.

Sankaranarayanan said he was aware of the situation in the region and had discussed it with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and other ministers concerned.

He said a central government team had visited the drought-hit areas and suggested constitution of local-level committees, comprising of health officials, to check the quality of water being supplied through tankers.

He said irrigation projects in the region should be completed on priority basis to benefit the target population.

The journalists were from various sub-districts of western Maharshtra.