The state agriculture department has selected three private companies to start a value chain development programme in 13 districts, where farmers will cultivate maize.

AURANGABAD: The district health officials have planned to reach out to the youth and spread awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption to mark the World Tobacco Day on May 31.

MUMBAI: Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on May 25 announced that Dena Bank has adopted 32 drought affected villages and provided 101 drinking water storage tanks in Aurangabad and Nashik distr

AURANGABAD: Even as the divisional administration demanded around Rs 300 crore to deal with drought situation in Aurangabad division, the state government has released just over half of the require

PUNE: As many as 3,184 villages and 7,650 hamlets are facing severe water shortage in the state, according to the latest report generated by the state government.

About 3,793 tankers are currently supplying drinking water to these villages and hamlets periodically. Most of these villages and hamlets are from eastern part of western Maharashtra and Marathwada.

AURANGABAD: The Aurangabad district court has ordered a stay on the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation's ( AMC) notice to the Aurangabad City Water Utility Company, asking it to start parallel water

As you drive on Vaijapur road near Aurangabad, don't be surprised if you spot huge solar panels near petrol pumps.

This year’s drought cannot be called worse than the one in 1972: SANDRP

While the Maharashtra government is crying hoarse about this year’s drought surpassing the one in 1972 and farmers are cutting off their crops and digging deeper than ever for water, an analysis based on rainfall patterns blames it on poor long-term vision and unequal water distribution. With 3,712 major, minor and medium projects, Maharashtra has the highest number of dams in the country; yet its irrigation coverage was 17.9 per cent in 2009-10. Its projects are plagued with delays and cost overruns, and a special team headed by Madhav Chitale is investigating them.

The annual economic survey, tabled in the Maharashtra Legislature today ahead of the presentation of State budget for 2013-14 tomorrow, reveals a decline in agriculture growth in the state.

"The agriculture sector growth has declined by 1.4 per cent, the growth of agriculture and allied sectors has declined by 2.1 per cent. The industry sector is expected to grow at 7 per cent, while the services sector is expected to grow by 8.5 per cent," it said.

PUNE: The number of villages and hamlets in the state facing water and fodder scarcity has increased by 850 after the first week of February.

In the first week of February, 5,294 villages and hamlets were facing severe water scarcity. The number has now increased to 6,153. The number of tankers supplying drinking water to villages and hamlets has also increased from 1,730 in the first week of February to 2,136 by the first week of March, said a senior revenue officer.