CM gives presentation during review meeting with PM on drought

Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje has requested to the Prime Minister to provide more central assistance to Rajasthan keeping in view the drought like situation and damage made to the crop due to hailstorm.

During a high level meeting with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at PM office on Saturday evening held to review the drought like situation and scarcity of rain in Rajasthan Smt. Raje gave a detail presentation regarding the current situation in the state and the efforts being made by the state government to mitigate the situation.

The Chief Minister said the State Government had requested for central assistance of Rs. 10,537 Crore in a detailed Memorandum presented earlier but till now Rs. 1,193 crore have been sanctioned by the Centre. She requested to increase central assistance for drought affected areas and said that revision of norms of assistance and its quantum be expedited.

Smt. Raje informed the Prime Minister about the Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan, under which 7 lakh water conservation structures are to come up in four years, including one lakh by 30th June, 2016.

The Prime Minister called for a mass movement to be generated for water conservation and said youth organizations including NCC, NSS, NYKS, and Scouts and Guides should be involved in creation of water storage structures. The Prime Minister stressed on the importance of waste water management and rooftop rainwater harvesting. Global best practices in this regard were also discussed during the meeting.

The Chief Minister mentioned the successful example of Baori revival in Kuchaman City, in Nagore district and assured of taking it up on a large scale. The Prime Minister said traditional water storage structures in the State (Baoris) should be revived in a big way through public participation.

Smt. Reje informed the Prime Minister that Rajasthan has faced drought for 61 out of last 67 years. Currently 19 districts and 14,487 revenue villages are badly affected by the drought. Extensive damage has been made to crops. She informed that due to drought crop has been damaged in around 39.80 lakh hectare area and 54.49 lakh farmers have been affected. She said around 1.95 crore human population and 1.68 crore cattle have been affected by the situation.

Smt. Raje said Rajasthan has highest livestock in the country and also requested for measures for cattle conservation. She said high level committee should take cognizance on this issue. She also requested that State Empowered Committee be empowered to extend period of relief beyond 90 days without any funds cap, as earlier. She said in extreme drought – Cattle conservation activities be allowed in non affected districts. Norms of assistance for loss of livestock on actual numbers and at higher rates. Agriculture Input Subsidy should be sanctioned on the basis of actual crop and damage assessment Norms to be enhanced to 5 hactare per farmer, she said. She also requested that horticulture/cash crops be placed in separate category and norms of assistance enhanced.

The Chief Minister said the State Government was taking effective measures towards drinking water security. She requested the Centre to take steps in this direction and form National Water Grid to provide surface water to deficit areas. She asked for adequate attention to the project of bringing sea water from Mundra/ Kandla to main land and pumping to deficit areas after desalination.

The Chief Minister requested to restore the annual fund support of Rs. 1300 crore under National Rural Drinking Water Project (NRDWP) so that drinking water projects could be completed in rural area. She requested the GoI to support transportation of Water by Rail as in the case of Latur. She asked for release of Rs. 800 crore for material under MGNREGA and Rs. 600 crore under Prime Minister Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY).

Jaipur, 14 May 2016