Many parts of M.P. reel under drought

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, OCT. 7. Six years after adopting the mission mode and pursuing the goals of the Rajiv Gandhi Watershed Mission, large parts of Madhya Pradesh are reeling under the impact of one of the worst droughts in recent years.

Madhya Pradesh was already facing the problem of rapidly depleting water table. This year's dry spell has further complicated matters and in order to combat the situation, the Madhya Pradesh Government has even rushed a memorandum to the Central Government seeking Rs. 795 crores for a massive relief initiative in different parts of the State.

A large part of the help sought from the Centre, to be precise Rs. 635 crores, is to be channelised for employment generation. It is further proposed to spend Rs. 79.46 crores on rural drinking water projects and Rs. 38. 87 crores for supplying drinking water in the urban areas. The State Government plans to earmark Rs. 21.05 cores out of this fund for agricultural inputs and subsidy and Rs. 21 crores for cattle care/health and fodder.

According to an official spokesman, the below average rainfall in a particular area indicates a drought-like situation but the presence or absence of several other factors, like extent of green cover and presence of reservoirs and water bodies, eventually reduce or aggravate a drought-like situation. Hence it is due to the cumulative effect of several factors acting simultaneously that the Raipur belt, covering areas like Mahasamund and Dhamtari, is the worst affected in the Chattisgarh region while in western Madhya Pradesh districts like Dhar, Jhabua, Khargone, Badwani, Ujjain and Neemuch that form the hub of the Rajiv Gandhi Watershed Mission activities are reeling under the harsh impact of drought these days.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : Keshubhai rivals seek his removal
Next     : Registrar hears cassettes on evidence