Modi meets Akhilesh Yadav, discusses drought situation in Uttar Pradesh
New Delhi: A day after Uttar Pradesh government refused to accept Centre’s water train for drought-hit Bundelkhand region, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav met Narendra Modi on Saturday to discuss the drought situation in the state.
"We apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the situation, put forth our concerns regarding drought and also crop damage due to hailstorm. Water is available in Bundelkhand, dam is hardly 5 kms away. We just have to make arrangements for distribution of water," Yadav told the media.
After the meeting, Modi tweeted, “Had a productive meeting with Akhilesh Yadav on the drought situation in various parts of UP.”
Had a productive meeting with UP CM @yadavakhilesh on the drought situation in various parts of UP. @CMOfficeUP pic.twitter.com/1pJKedMPbK
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 7, 2016
During the meeting, Modi and Yadav discussed the need to effectively utilise the period before monsoon for water recharge and conservation efforts.
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.
CM @yadavakhilesh & I discussed the need to effectively utilise the period before monsoon for water recharge and conservation efforts.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 7, 2016
Various drought mitigation measures undertaken in the state were discussed extensively in the meeting, tweeted Modi.
The various drought mitigation measures undertaken in the state were discussed extensively in the meeting.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 7, 2016
Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government had turned down the Centre's offer to send a water-train to the state's drought-hit Bundelkhand region, saying the water crisis situation there was not as serious as in Maharashtra's Latur.
Read: UP says no to Centre's water-train for drought-hit Bundelkhand
It, however, requested the Centre to provide it 10,000 water tankers for distributing water in the region.
On Thursday, Modi had written a letter to chief ministers of drought-hit Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka inviting them for a special meeting to discuss the prevailing situation.
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.
Read: SP walkout to protest sending empty water train to Bundelkhand
"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.
