Drought to be ground-checked in four Gondia talukas: Amgaon, Deori, Salekasa and Gondia

Gondia: To assess the drought objectively, the state government has approved ground-truthing in 18 more talukas, including four in Gondia district: Amgaon, Deori, Salekasa and Gondia, the most from any single district on the new list. The relief and rehabilitation department issued the government resolution on October 9.

Twenty per cent of the five main crops will be surveyed in these talukas, and findings from satellite images, maps and computer data will be verified through field visits under the Drought Management Manual, 2016. The talukas were chosen on the directions of the cabinet sub-committee's September 29 meeting, considering the June–September rainfall deficit and other factors.

Following a September 25 government resolution, drought stands declared in 265 talukas of the state under trigger-1 criteria, with 12 relief measures and concessions in force. The new verification list also includes talukas in Chandrapur, Bhandara and Wardha districts of Vidarbha.

Source: Mahasamvad