Pandharpur (Maharastra), Jan 22: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today allowed Maharashatra government to raise Rs 1,500 crore in the form of negotiated loans to meet drought-related expenditures and announced release of two lakh metric tonne more foodgrains worth Rs 200 crore for the state. The move came amid allegations by the Maharashtra government that the Centre was not helping it fight the drought.
Apart from the permission to raise loans and extra foodgrain stock, the Centre also sanctioned Rs 50 crore more for drought-relief works in the state, a release issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) here said.
This was in addition to Rs 119.92 crore sanctioned by the Centre for drought relief works in the state, the release said.
The state had demanded Rs 1,737 crore and 10 lakh metric tonne food grains to fight the problem.
The announcement came barely a day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde alleged "stepmotherly" treatment by the Centre in fighting drought in the state.
Several districts of western, central and south-western Maharashtra are reeling under drought following deficient rainfall this year. As a result, the government is providing tanker water to nearly 2,067 villages and 4,300 hamlets at present, Shinde said.
Nearly 6.26 lakh workers from the affected areas have been provided with jobs under the state's employment guarantee scheme (EGS). Bureau Report