Chg Collectors told to prepare exigency plan for rain deficit

Keeping in view shortfall of rains in many parts of the state until August, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has instructed the Collectors to prepare an exigency plan in their respective region to deal with the impending consequences.
The Collectors have been directed to launch employment-oriented works for farmers so that they can earn livelihood besides implementing MNREGA on urgent basis without any further delay.
"There is scanty rainfall in most parts of the state which may hit the kharif crop production thereby affecting the farmers. Therefore CM has directed the collectors to get ready with exigency plan to deal with the critical situation and simultaneously create employment opportunities for farmers in their region," an official here said today.

The CM delivered the directives while chairing a meeting of Surguja and North Region Tribal Development Authority at Baikunthpur in Korea district yesterday.
During meeting, he sanctioned Rs 1.50 crore for electricity connections to the irrigation pumps of 325 farmers in the region and asked the Collectors to provide power connections to the farmers as soon as they receive the request, he said.
Notably, temporary power connections have been provided to about eight thousand irrigation pumps last month owing to the scanty rainfall in several parts of the State.

Meanwhile, he also directed the forest department officials to take adequate measures to prevent wild elephants from venturing into villages and destroying the crops and property of the villagers.

The officials were directed to provide compensation as early as possible to the affected people, he said.
Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Brijmohan Agrawal, Home Minister Ramsevak Paikra and other ministers and officials were present in the meeting.