Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Gehlot Urges Rajasthan Government to Prepare for Drought Conditions
Ashok Gehlot says some parts of Rajasthan may be facing drought-like conditions.
He wants the government to plan early for people and animals who may need drinking water and fodder.
He also says people may need jobs through relief work.
Gehlot named villages in Jodhpur, Barmer, Balotra and Jaisalmer as affected.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma announced water arrangements and tanker supplies until December 31.
He also announced fodder depots and money for emergency work.
Gehlot alleged that some orders had not reached a district collector after three days.
He also called for farmers’ loans to be waived.
Ashok Gehlot urged Rajasthan’s government to prepare a contingency plan for drought-like conditions.
He warned that drinking water, fodder and employment could become major concerns in the coming months.
Gehlot cited thousands of potentially affected villages in Jodhpur, Barmer, Balotra and Jaisalmer districts.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma announced water arrangements and tanker supplies through December 31, fodder depots and emergency works funding.
Gehlot said relief measures must be implemented promptly and called for a farm-loan waiver.
- Who
- Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.
- What
- Gehlot urged the state to prepare for drought-like conditions and ensure relief measures are carried out.
- When
- Gehlot made the appeal on Sunday, October 4; the report does not specify the year.
- Where
- Rajasthan, including villages cited in Jodhpur, Barmer, Balotra and Jaisalmer districts.
- Why
- Gehlot warned that drinking water, fodder and employment could become major concerns in the coming months.
Gehlot’s concerns and demands
State government’s announced measures
Preparedness and implementation
Gehlot’s concerns and demands
Gehlot called for immediate contingency planning and adequate relief work, and alleged that orders related to announced measures had not reached the district collector after three days.
State government’s announced measures
Sharma announced continuing emergency water arrangements and tanker supplies through December 31, fodder depots and authority for district collectors to approve emergency works.
Farm-loan relief
Gehlot’s concerns and demands
Gehlot demanded a farm-loan waiver and cited a previous Congress government waiver of about Rs 14,000 crore.
State government’s announced measures
The reports describe the government’s water, fodder and emergency-work measures but do not give a government response to the loan-waiver demand.
- Villages cited as affected
- About 2,000 in Jodhpur, 2,460 in Barmer, 1,216 in Balotra and 961 in Jaisalmer, according to Gehlot.
- Water arrangements
- Sharma announced that emergency drinking-water arrangements and tanker supplies in low-rainfall areas would continue until December 31.
- Fodder depots
- Sharma announced depots in Barmer, Balotra, Jaisalmer and other affected areas.
- Emergency works
- District collectors were authorised to sanction emergency works of up to Rs 1 crore.
- Gehlot’s implementation concern
- He alleged that three days after Sharma’s announcement, related orders had not reached the district collector.
- Farm-loan waiver
- Gehlot called for farmers’ loans to be waived and said the previous Congress government had waived about Rs 14,000 crore in farm loans.
- Congress visits
- Gehlot said Congress leaders at block, district and state levels would visit affected areas to assess relief work, payments, water and fodder arrangements.
