Expressing concern over possibility of deficient monsoon, members of various political parties in Rajya Sabha today urged the government to take appropriate steps to ensure that people, especially farmers do not suffer.
During a short duration discussion on deficient rainfall, Congress member and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said the all-India figures till July 7 showed that monsoon has been deficient by nearly 42 per cent this year.
He said if rainfall did not improve, the situation would become very serious. A similar situation prevailed in 2012, when an EGoM was constituted by the UPA government then.
This government, Ramesh said, is "allergic" to GoMs or EGoMs and added that many decisions taken by the UPA were relevant, like extending number of days in which employment was provided under MGNREGA from 100 to 150 days.
Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said there has been less rainfall due to which people are facing problems.
He demanded that a Supreme Court directive on restoring water bodies and wanted the government to waive interest on loans taken by farmers.
Bhupendra Yadav (BJP) congratulated the government on immediate steps taken by it and attempts to communicate with states to work out contingency plans.
Brijesh Pathak (BSP) expressed concern that small rivers are dying and said the government should consider waiving farm loans.
K C Tyagi (JD-U) also demanded loan waiver for farmers and steps for providing cheap fodder, improvement of PDS and restoration of pools and ponds.
