-The Economic Times New Delhi: The government has asked 25 states that received less than 75% rainfall during the monsoon to factor in the deficit while preparing the labour budget for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in FY18. According to data analysed by the agriculture ministry, 155 districts in 25 states received less than 75% of the long period average rainfall between June and September 2016. States...

-PTI “Don’t dig the well when the house is on fire,” the Supreme Court on Wednesday observed as it warned the Centre of not repeating last year’s “mistakes” in tackling the drought situation in various parts of the country this time. Asking the government to be ready with relief measures for drought in certain parts of country this year, the apex court said: “We are concerned about the approach. You should change...

-The Indian Express The bench pointed out that several districts in the country had received deficient rainfall and a situation like last year could emerge again when delay in declaring drought had affected relief work. The Supreme Court Wednesday warned the Centre against repeating last year’s mistake and asked it to declare a drought condition well in time to tackle the situation better. “We are concerned about the approach. You should change your...

-The Economic Times NEW DELHI: The government's big plan to fight drought will be unveiled on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday on October 2, with three ministries on directions of the Prime Minister, joining hands to converge their schemes to 'drought-proof' vulnerable districts using technology. Narendra Modi, during meetings with the chief ministers of droughtaffected states earlier this year, had asked for a massive effort to be launched for water conservation and storage...

-The Times of India MUMBAI: Cattle fodder camps that were opened in the state during the drought years are under the scanner for large-scale irregularities and the government plans to investigate the organizations that managed these camps. Senior state government officials said the BJP-Sena government wants to audit the 1,288 cattle camps that were opened in different parts of the state between 2012 and 2014 by the Congress-NCP government. The then government...