India, Oct. 31 -- While politicians and farmers have been pressing for their areas to be included in Maharashtra's drought-hit list, residents of three talukas in the state's Gondia district have demanded their exclusion.

Villagers from Arjuni Moregaon, Sadak Arjuni and Goregaon argue that the classification has restricted irrigation water supply and could aggravate human-wildlife conflict.

Farmers, their organisations and villagers have written to the district collector seeking the removal of their talukas from the list of 304 drought-hit talukas. Some villages have passed resolutions in their gram sabhas supporting the demand, while farmers have submitted representations to the administration.

The villagers contend that although the ...