UTTAR PRADESH CM AKHILESH YADAV SEEKS RS 11,000 CR TO MEET DROUGHT SITUATION
With Uttar
Pradesh hit by a severe drought, its Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday
sought nearly Rs. 11,000 crore from the Centre as Prime Minister Narendra Modi
reviewed the situation in the State and directed immediate assistance.Days
after rejecting the Centre’s offer for a water train for Bundelkhand, Mr. Yadav
sought financial assistance to buy 10,000 tankers to carry water to villages of
parched region and other drought-hit districts of Uttar Pradesh.“The Centre and
the State have to work together...farmers have faced the onslaught of both hail
storm and drought...we want to increase the number of tankers to carry water to
villagers,” Mr. Yadav told reporters after the hour-long meeting with the Prime
Minister here.Under various heads, Mr. Yadav demanded nearly 11,000 crore from
the Centre for drought relief.Asked why the State government had rejected offer
to send water train to Bundelkhand, he said there is water in Bundelkhand but
his government needs means to carry it to villages. “Can a train carry water to
villages,” he questioned.
At the meeting
here with Mr. Yadav which also discussed water scarcity, Mr. Modi said the
Centre and States have to work together to mitigate the problems faced by the
people due to the drought, a PMO statement said.He pitched for focus on medium
and long term solutions for drought-proofing.Mr. Yadav apprised the Prime
Minister of efforts undertaken for mitigation of problems faced by the people
because of drought conditions, particularly in the Bundelkhand region, the
statement said,It was noted that the State has submitted a memorandum two days
back for assistance for the Rabi 2015-16 season and the Prime Minister directed
that the process be completed, and assistance be provided without delay.The
State shared the action plan for revival and restoration of 78,000 water-bodies
including tanks, ponds, and farm ponds; one lakh new water-bodies and recharge
structures.This is to be achieved by utilizing funds available in schemes such
as MNREGA and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, the statement said.The meeting
was told that an amount of Rs. 934.32 crore has been released to the State
under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), after adjustments of the
State balances.This is in addition to Rs. 506.25 crore released as central
share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2015-16 to the State. A
further amount of Rs. 265.87 crore has been released as first instalment of
SDRF for 2016-17.
Prof. John Kurakar
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