Modi invites CMs of UP, Maharashtra, Karnataka to discuss drought situation

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka here on Saturday for discussions on drought and water-scarcity situation which has hit these states badly.

The Chief Ministers of these three states – Akhilesh Yadav, Devendra Fadnavis and Siddaramaiah -- have been invited by the Prime Minister for separate meetings, sources said on Thursday.

At these meetings, Modi will take stock of the situation with regard to drought and water-scarcity that these states are facing, they said. UP, Maharashtra and Karnataka are worst hit by the twin problems.

The Centre has already made it clear that while it was doing its bit to provide relief to those affected by the drought, it was for the states themselves to address the situation on the ground.

"The Centre's role is to monitor and the state's role is to provide assistance and help the affected people at ground level," Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh had said in Rajya Sabha recently while replying to a debate on drought.

"The central government does its bit, but all state governments should also do their best" in addressing the drought situation, he had said.

Singh had insisted that farmers are a priority for the central government and it was taking adequate measures.

Talking about the steps taken by the Centre, he said it has eased norms for providing relief and even the allocation for State Disaster Response Fund has been raised.