The Central government has released a sum of Rs. 501 crore under the Integrated Watershed Management Scheme (IWMP) as part of the drought-mitigation measures in the afflicted zones of Maharashtra.

In a letter to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh said that in keeping with the gravity of the drought being faced by the State owing to deficient rains till July, the Empowered Group of Ministers had approved to waive off the deduction of unspent balance from the first instalment of central assistance for 2012-13 under the IWMP.

The government on Thursday directed the Karnataka government to submit a revised report on the severe drought prevailing across the state and funds required from the Centre to take up additional relief works.

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who was here to assess the drought situation in Karnataka, said an amount of Rs 286 crore under the National Rural Drinking Water Supply and Rs 334 crore under Watershed Management Programme would be disbursed to the state as a measure to overcome the drought situation.

With 64 per cent districts in the country recording less than normal rainfall this monsoon, the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on Tuesday announced a 50 per cent diesel subsidy scheme for the

Package includes cheaper diesel for irrigation, funds to ensure drinking water

Subsidy on diesel, seeds to be hiked to help farmers

The Central government on Tuesday approved Rs 1,931 crore financial package to five drought-affected states, including Rs 224 crore for Karnataka. The package will be used primarily to ensure supply of drinking water in rain deficient states and improve watershed management for drought-proofing. In addition, subsidy on diesel and seeds will be increased to help farmers tackle the crisis and save standing crops. Import duty on oil mill cake has been waived to improve the feed scenario.

July 25: The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) is trying to make rainwater harvesting mandatory in its new building bylaws for the city, a source said.

Anticipating a bleak situation due to scanty rainfall, the state government on Wednesday announced a Rs2,685 crore package for drought-affected areas in the state assembly.

Rural people will now have more work opportunities under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guaranty Act (MNREGA) Scheme-2 as more than 30 new work sectors have been added in the scheme.