Following the acute shortage of water in Bundelkhand region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed a high-level review of the drought situation where a decision was taken by the Uttar Pradesh Government to disburse the relief amount directly into the bank accounts of farmers within a week.
The review meeting was held in Prime Minister's Office yesterday where Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan and his team made a presentation. The secretaries of the concerned departments of the government were also present in the PMO during the review meeting.
The high-level committee chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh recommended Rs. 1304 crore for drought relief to Uttar Pradesh under the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) where the state government would disburse the relief amount directly into the bank accounts of farmers within a week.
Ranjan informed that a comprehensive contingency plan to address the drinking water situation in Bundelkhand region, especially Mahoba, Chitrakoot and Banda districts of Chitrakoot division are ready. He further assured that drinking water will be made available in these districts.
During the meeting, implementation of previous Bundelkhand package was high on agenda and it was brought to the notice that Rs. 264 crore was released by NITI Aayog in March to complete the committed liabilities on ongoing projects in Uttar Pradesh as a one-time grant.
It was agreed that the state government would ensure completion of all ongoing 37 Piped Water Schemes on priority. An observation was also made that the warehousing marketing infrastructure built under the package needs to be better utilized.
It was also decided that water tanks, building of dug wells, farm ponds would be taken up on priority under various projects and schemes for Bundelkhand.
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During the meeting, it was also noted that coverage of crop insurance scheme in Uttar Pradesh is between 7 to10 percent only.
However, the coverage in Bundelkhand due to distress situation is around 30 percent. More than 250 crores in Rabi 2014-15 and around Rs. 180 crore in Kharif 2015 have been distributed as claims benefitting around 3.34 lakh and 2.16 lakh farmers respectively.
The state government was asked to ensure maximum coverage of farmers in the recently launched Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and it was agreed that the state Government would hold district wise camps to ensure that both loanee and non-loanee farmers are covered in a campaign mode.
It was noted in the meeting that as per the Prime Minister's vision and in the true spirit of cooperative federalism, the Centre and the state government will together work for long-term sustainable solutions to address the problem of vulnerable regions in natural distress.