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Centre turns down Maharashtra's request for more funds

The Centre has turned down Maharashtra government's request for financial assistance to the tune of Rs 1 billion to mitigate the severe drought situation in the state.

"The Union government has rejected the state's request for release of Rs 1 billion to overcome the acute water shortage in parts of Maharashtra," water supply minister R R Patil said in Bombay on Thursday.

At least 23,954 villages are reeling under acute water scarcity in the state.

Patil's statement comes barely five days after Prime Minster Atal Bihari Vajpayee directed the finance ministry to release additional funds to help state governments to cope with drought conditions prevailing in several parts of the country.

"We had placed our request with the Centre before this summer after reviewing the entire drinking water situation in the state," Patil said.

Maharashtra, following shortage in rainfall last year, is facing severe water scarcity for the first time in about last 30 years, a senior official of the water supply department said adding 23,954 villages were affected.

However, the state government has geared up to fight the water scarcity and has already spent a sum of Rs 1.23 billion to overcome the situation, Patil said.

"Another Rs 250-300 million will be made available soon to provide relief to the affected people," the minister added.

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