By our correspondent, Gandhinagar, 26 March 2012

939 villages of 10 districts and 69 talukas of north Gujarat, Kutch and Saurashtra are drought affected while 2979 are partially drought-hit. State Revenue Minister shared this detail in Gujarat assembly today. She said the villages are declared drought-hit due to failure of Kharif crops and water scarcity.

According to the minister, relief works will be started in four thousand villages soon. Relief works will involve forest care and excavation of water bodies.

The minister stated that more villages would be added to the list if need arise. The state has enough fund to counter the challenge. Moreover the central government has provided Rs 864 crore aid which would be fully utilized in relief works. Those not beneficiary of crop insurance will also get support.

As per the announcement made by the minister, Kutch district’s Mundra and Lakhpat, Rajkot district’s Dhoraji, Gondal, Jamkandorna, Jetpur, Kotdasangani, Lodhika, Morbi, Padadhari, Maliya-Miyana, Rajkot city, Rajkot rural, Tankara, Upleta and Wankaner – thus total 13 talukas are drought-affected.

Jamnagar district’s Bhanvad, Dhrol, Jamjodhpur, Jamnagar city, Jamnagar rural, Jodiya, Kalavad, Kalyanpur, Khambhaliya, Lalpur and Dwarka – thus total 10 talukas are drought-hit.

In Junagadh district, Bhesan, Junagadh, Kedhod , Kodinar, Maliya, Manavadar, Mangrol, Mendarda, Sutrapada, Talala, Una, Vanthli, Veraval, Visavdar – thus total 14 talukas are drought affected.

In Porbandar district, Kutiyana, Porbandar, Ranavav – all three talukas are drought-hit.

In Amreli district, Amreli, Babara, Bagasara, Dhari, Jafrabad, Khambha, Lathi, Liliya, Rajula, Savarkundla and Vadiya talukas are scarcity-hit.

In Bhavnagar district, Bhavnagar rural, Botad, Gariadhar, Gadhada, Ghodha, Mahuva, Palitana, Shihor, Talaja, Umrala and Valbhipur – 11 talukas are scarcity-hit.

In north Gujarat, Patan district’s Radhanpur taluka, Banaskantha’s Tharad and Vav and Amdavad’s Amdavad city and Sanand talukas are declared scarcity hit.