11 talukas declared as drought prone in Pune district 

The Pune district administration has announced up to 11 talukas in Pune district as drought prone due to the increasing severity of the drought situation in Maharashtra.

With the exception of Mulshi and Velhe, all 11 talukas in the Pune district—Junnar, Ambegaon, Khed, Maval, Bhor, Haveli, Purandar, Indapur, Daund, Baramati, and Shirur—have been identified as being at risk of drought. 

According to the central government’s criteria, the talukas of Baramati and Purandar have been declared fully drought prone, whereas the talukas of Indapur, Shirur, and Daund have been declared partially drought prone.

The district collector for Pune stated that the state government has added revenue boards to the drought list of 31 revenue boards in the district, with the exception of Mulshi and Velhe. As a result, the district’s 11 talukas have been identified as drought-prone.

Drought-prone villages are those that had less than 75% of their rainfall fall in one year.

According to a retired state irrigation department official and a specialist in drought, this year’s rainfall has been below 75% in the majority of the talukas and lower throughout the state. Thus, it has had a negative effect on other industries in the state’s villages as well as farmers. Thus, surveys are the first step in the state government’s process of designating talukas as drought-prone areas.

Farmers in these drought-prone talukas, however, are now apprehensive. A farmer from Purandar taluka said that although they had planted some fruits and vegetables this year, almost 80% of the farms had suffered damage as a result of the lack of adequate rain. They are now concerned about how to go back to farming in the event that the government does not offer them assistance.