Modi reviews drought situation in Chhattisgarh

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed drought situation in Chhattisgarh with Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday.

Chhattisgarh has declared 26 out of 27 districts drought-hit and has increased the rural job guarantee scheme from 100 days to 200 days for a year to provide relief to the distressed rural population.

Singh has also asked the officers to implement job-oriented schemes effectively.

Singh briefed PM Modi about the situation prevailing in the province and measures taken by the state to meet the challenges of drought.

“We gave one hour presentation to the prime minister, enlisting the measures taken by Chhattisgarh that prevented water crisis in villages. We had filled up ponds and we had also devised a plan to meet the challenges of drinking water in nearly 20,000 villages,” Singh said here after the meeting.

Singh also demanded a financial package for irrigation and water conservation projects to overcome future challenges.

“We have sent a proposal to the federal government, demanding Rs. 54, 000 crore for long term, medium term, short term irrigation projects and for water conservation. Chhattisgarh is the first state to submit such a plan,” Singh added.

Drought in many parts of the country has hit rice, cotton and other crops, and lower world commodity prices have added to the farmers’ plight.

A total of 5,650 farmer suicides were recorded in India in 2014, more than half of them in Maharashtra, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. The states of Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka also had large numbers of farmer suicides. (ANI)