1.40 lakh cattle admitted to fodder camps to survive drought in Pune district

Maharashtra government has declared 112 talukas as severely drought-hit, and thousands of villages are dependent on water tankers for their daily water needs.

With drought declared in 112 talukas at least 1.41 lakh cattle (cows, bullock and others) have been admitted to fodder camps in Pune district. Till Saturday, the Pune divisional commissionerate sanctioned 251 cattle fodder camps in the division.

Out of these five districts except Kolhapur, all four district administrations have started cattle fodder camps. (HT PHOTO)

Maharashtra government has declared 112 talukas as severely drought-hit, and thousands of villages are dependent on water tankers for their daily water needs. As a result of which the state government ordered to open these fodder camps.

Deepak Mhaisekar, Pune divisional commissioner, said, “Till May 17, we sanctioned 251 cattle fodder camps out of which 216 are actually running. I have also instructed all district collectors to sanction more cattle fodder camps as per the requirement.”

Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur and Kolhapur districts come under Pune division. Out of these five districts except Kolhapur, all four district administrations have started cattle fodder camps. Out of these 251 fodder camps, the highest, 181 camps are in Solapur district, 51 are in Satara district, and 13 are in Sangli district and six are in Pune district.

Meanwhile, the state government is paying Rs 100 per day for each adult animal and Rs 50 per day for each small animal to the fodder camps. Along with that, the state government is also offering 18 kg fodder daily and half kg of cattle feed per day for each animal.

“At least 300 animals can live in each animal fodder camp,” informed an official from the divisional commissionerate.

At a glance

District Sanctioned camps Running camps

Solapur 181 169

Satara 51 31

Sangli 13 13

Pune 6 3