Mumbai:
Alarmed at the inadequate rainfall in Maharashtra and the depleting water levels in the state's dams, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today held a meeting with the collectors of 20 districts to review the situation.
Fearing a crisis in case the monsoon continues to play truant, Mr Chavan instructed the collectors to ensure that water available in the dams is used only for drinking, and farmers are discouraged to use it for other purposes.
Though the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted a decent amount of rainfall in the state in the first week of July, Mr Chavan urged the district collectors to keep a contingency plan in place.
In case the monsoons continue their missing act in July, the state may witness a shortage of drinking water, fear authorities.
Mr Chavan also asked the collectors keep stocks of seeds available for farmers who may be forced to switch to alternate, less water-dependant crops in case of a deficient monsoon.
Tankers should be made available in rural areas facing water scarcity, the Chief Minister told the collectors, and asked them to ensure that enough jobs are available in rural areas for those looking for other means of income under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.