Crops on 25 lakh hectares in Marathwada damaged

Aurangabad, Oct 23:

Due to the rains that have been falling for the last few days, Kharif crops on 25 lakh hectares in Marathwada are currently under water, and about 70 tehsils in the division have received more than 100 per cent rainfall and six tehsils are also on the threshold of 100 per cent rainfall.

According to the preliminary figures of the divisional administration, Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 crore will be required for the flood victims, but the final figures have not been released yet. All the tehsils in Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed and Hingoli districts have exceeded the annual average rainfall, while most of the tehsils in Nanded, Osmanabad, Parbhani and Latur districts have lost their kharif crops due to heavy rains. The picture is likely to be clear by the end of October, after which a central team will come to inspect the damage. The panchnama and photographs will be shown to the team. After that, the way will be clear to get help from the central government. A team from the Center is expected to arrive in the last week of next month for inspection. The relief funds for the damage caused by last year''s unseasonal rains were released in December 2019. The help was received as per the report sent by the divisional administration before the inspection of the central team. This year, the work of panchnama is underway to find out how much crop has been damaged.

Aid of Rs 3,350 crore last year

In October-November 2019, the state was hit by unseasonal rains due to cyclone. Crops were damaged in 325 tehsils in 34 districts. About 44,33,549 farmers from 8 districts of Marathwada were affected. A decision was taken at the government level regarding crop loss on 41,49,175 hectares and providing assistance of Rs 3,350 crore to the affected farmers.