UP delayed drought report: Union agri minister

Alleging the Uttar Pradesh government of being "lax" towards farmers, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Monday said the state provided a report on the 44 drought-affected districts belatedly, owing to which there would be delay in taking decision on the relief package.

The Union minister said the state had submitted its report only last Friday.

Singh, who was here to pay tribute to former member of parliament and head of Gorakhnath peeth Mahant Avaidyanath, in a reply to a question, said the state government gave a report regarding 44 drought-affected districts very late, and it would take time for the Centre to take decision on the drought-relief package. He said now agriculture, irrigation, food and finance departments of the Centre would do an assessment of the calamity in the affected districts and submit their reports.

Singh said the state government was lax towards the farmers and said the Union government had given a package of Rs 565 crore for agriculture development of which it could utilise only Rs 334 crore.

He said the Centre would hold a meeting and take any decision on the relief package on the basis of the report.

He said in such a situation it takes time to complete the process and added that the Centre was preparing an action plan to increase productivity and development of cash crops and fisheries in Uttar Pradesh, especially in the eastern parts of the state.