Rs 120 million for drought-hit Maharashtra

Chief Minister Manohar Joshi has granted Rs 120 million to the drought-affected Marathwada region. Twentyfour out of the 59 talukas in the region have been declared drought-affected.

The decision was taken at a meeting between Joshi, Deputy Chief Minster Gopinath Munde, legislators and senior bureaucrats.

Joshi said a committee has been constituted to tackle drought in the region. The panel will be headed by Additional Chief Secretary Rangananathan. Announcing a moratorium on transfers till March 1998, the chief minister said this will motivate the bureaucracy to fight drought. He said lethargic officials will be taken to task.

Compiled by Prasanna D Zore from the Marathi media