The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought headed by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Friday approved Rs 480 crore as an immediate relief package for the state of Gujarat which facing a drought-like situation following deficient rainfall this monsoon season.
The Narendra Modi-led government has placed a demand of Rs 14,683 crore before the EGoM.
"Under Rural potable water scheme we have received demand of Rs 480 crore from the state government. This is for emergency services in 24 districts of the state. We have informed Chief Minister (Nrendra Modi) that the entire demand of Rs 480 crore has been approved and would be disbursed to state in next one and half months," Union Rural Development Minister Jayram Ramesh, who is member of the EMoG told reporters here after a three-hour meeting with Gujarat government officials.
"For watershed management programme we had released Rs 320 crore last week. And under MNREGA, limit of minimum person days of employment would be raised from 100 to 150 . The wages for the additional 50 days would be paid by the centre," he said.
Ramesh further said that the EGoM has instructed the state to revise the labour budget for the drought notified districts.
"We believe that there would be increase of 25-30 per cent in the labour budget, we will immediately approve it once we get demand from the state government next week," he added.
Pawar explained that the objective of the EGoM was to take stock of the situation in the states affected badly by the deficient rainfall which include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
"Committee has been given powers to take required decisions with regard drought affected states by the Prime Minister. We have visited Maharashtra and Karnataka so far. In Gujarat over rainfall this year especially in Saurashtra region has been less, while in other parts of the states rains have been inadequate," the minister said.
Talking about the Gujarat govenment's Rs 14,683 crore demand as assistance, Pawar said, "The state government has asked for more assistance for long term planning it is good. But our mandate today does not allow us to take decision on that. So we have asked the CM to separate the long term and short term assistance demand. For long term assistance they can approach the planning commission or the finance department."
"State government had prepared a memorandum which was a mixture of many things. It has drought related demands and also long-term demands. We have asked them to resubmit by next week the memorandum after separating the emergency service related drought and the long term measures required for drought proofing activities," he further said.
