PM reviews drought and water scarcity situation at high level meeting with Andhra Pradesh CM and Chhattisgarh CM

PM reviews drought and water scarcity situation at high level meeting with Andhra Pradesh CM

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high level meeting on the drought and water scarcity situation in parts of Andhra Pradesh. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N Chandrababu Naidu, was present in the meeting. Senior officials from the Government of India, and the State of Andhra Pradesh, were also present. 

An amount of Rs. 315.95 crore has been released to the State under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), after adjustments of the State balances. This is in addition to Rs 330 crore released as central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2015-16 to the State. A further amount of Rs. 173.25 crore has been released as first instalment of SDRF for 2016-17.

The Chief Minister described the State’s efforts in building check dams, reviving lift irrigation schemes, and deploying mobile sprinkler units (rain guns) as part of the drought mitigation effort. He mentioned the State’s progress in micro-irrigation. The State has a target of 20 lakh hectares for micro-irrigation by 2022. Global best practices and research in the field came up for discussion. Appreciating the State’s efforts in micro-irrigation, the Prime Minister directed setting up of a task force to comprehensively study the economic impact of drip irrigation in the States of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, on various parameters such as water saving, enhanced productivity, and savings in terms of reduced input costs of fertiliser, pesticide and labour.

The Chief Minister, praising the Prime Minister for his initiatives of neem-coating of urea and the assistance of Rs. 1500 per tonne offered for compost made from municipal solid waste, stated that these will go a long way in improving soil health and checking the diversion of urea.

The Chief Minister also made a brief presentation on how the State Government is using technology to get real-time updates on water and agriculture from the field. Appreciating these innovations, the Prime Minister urged the NITI Aayog to set up a task force in consultation with the State that could come up with a model on how to use technology for crop insurance.

The meeting ended with a resolve on the part of the Centre and State to work together. 

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PM reviews drought and water scarcity situation at high level meeting with Chhattisgarh CM

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high level meeting on the drought and water scarcity situation in parts of Chhattisgarh. The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Dr. Raman Singh, was present in the meeting. Senior officials from the Government of India, and the State of Chhattisgarh, were also present. 

An amount of Rs. 835.695 crore has been released to the State under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), after adjustments of the State balances. This is in addition to Rs 249.725 crore released as central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2015-16 to the State. A further amount of Rs. 94.875 crore has been released as first instalment of SDRF for 2016-17.

The Chief Minister mentioned the water conservation measures initiated by the State. These include desilting of 8055 water bodies and farm ponds, construction of 44,181 new farm ponds, and construction of 9851 ground water recharge structures. The drought relief measures initiated in the State include provision of drinking water and foodgrains in each village. The Chief Minister said that one quintal of rice has been kept with each Panchayat, to ensure that no one starves in the villages. The State has used Remote Sensing Technology to identify watersheds and plan irrigation strategies.

The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister for implementing the recommendations of the fourteenth Finance Commission. He said the additional funds that have been made available to local bodies, have made it possible to restart Piped Water Schemes that had stalled due to lack of funds. Now all Piped Water Schemes in the State are functional.

The Chief Minister also spoke about the State’s programme to construct anicuts, and the State Government’s afforestation efforts. He presented the State’s strategy for doubling farm income by 2022.

The Prime Minister appreciated the preparatory work done by the State for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. He said other States can also study this as a model.

The meeting ended with a resolve on the part of the Centre and State to work together.