State governments concrete efforts help deal with drought: CM
Bhopal. Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan apprised Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of drought in Madhya Pradesh and state government’s efforts to deal with it. The Prime Minister chaired a meeting of Chief Ministers of drought-affected states in New Delhi today. The Chief Minister informed that drought relief of Rs. 4,664 crore has been distributed to 61 lakh affected farmers in Madhya Pradesh.
The Chief Minister informed the Prime Minister that due to preparatory steps taken last 10 years, the state was relatively well placed to tackle the drought. These steps included creation of water storage structures. Despite successive years of deficient monsoon, transportation of water is required only in 113 villages. Even if it does not rain till the end of June, this number will be only around 400 villages out of approximately 50,000 villages.
The Chief Minister expressed gratitude towards the Prime Minister for convening meeting of Chief Ministers of drought-affected states.
He also said that the State is giving highest priority to the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. The Chief Minister also outlined the preparations for implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister discussed various agriculture measures including micro-irrigation, use of liquid fertilizer, use of space technology and focus on building farm ponds. The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister discussed strategies to increase awareness about water conservation and storage and involving the youth organizations such as NCC, NSS, NYKS, and Scouts and Guides, in these activities. They discussed enhanced steps for tree plantation and protection in the catchments area of Narmada.
The meeting was informed that an amount of Rs. 1875.80 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 657.75 crore released as central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2015-16 to the State. A further amount of Rs. 345.375 crore has been released as first installment of SDRF for 2016-17.
