New Delhi: The government has decided to increase
foodgrain stocks in areas of deficient rainfall, said
prime minister Manmohan Singh, cabinet secretary, monitoring
meeting.
In
a statement in the Lok Sabha yesterday, the prime minister
said that he personally reviewed the situation with the
ministers and secretaries concerned on July 9. He also
asked the cabinet secretary to review the situation on
a weekly basis. The first monitoring meeting was taken
by the cabinet secretary on July 13, Singh said.
"The
government shall spare no efforts in providing all possible
assistance to people in the eventuality of a drought,"
he said.
Out
of 36 meteorological sub-divisions in the country, 16
sub-divisions have received deficient or scanty rainfall
so far, he said. Telangana and Rayalaseema regions of
Andhra Pradesh, Vidharbha in Maharashtra, western Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand
have had deficient rain, ranging from 25 per cent to 51
per cent against normal rain, he said.
The
union ministry of agriculture is keeping a close watch
on the situation, the prime minister said. ministry officials
have reviewed drought relief preparedness in Andhra Pradesh,
MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab, Singh
said.
The
crop sowing season in all these states extends up to the
end of July with delayed rainfall. The precise extent
of unsown area can only be assessed after the end of this
month, he said.
The assessment for employment generation under drought
relief measures will be considered after the end of July,
the prime minister said,
adding that all state governments have drawn up their
plans to ensure drinking water supply in the areas affected
by deficient and scanty rain in the eventuality of water
shortage.
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