The Rajasthan state administration and the Indian federal governments are stepping up relief efforts to combat the drought by sending water and fodder to the drought-hit region.
"Today, we are expecting the first navy ship at Pipavav port carrying over 1,000 tonnes of water," said the managing director of Gujarat Maritime Board, Mr P.N. Roy Chowdhury, adding that government-run tanker trucks would carry water from the port to crisishit villages.
Officials in Gujarat said about 1,000 trucks were being used to supply water to nearly 9,500 villages and 79 urban centres and the state government planned to use trains to supply water to the drought-hit areas.
Officials in Rajasthan said the government had provided jobs for 400,000 people under a food-for-work programme and hoped to employ another 200,000 people in the next two months.