Pawar, Ramesh in Gujarat to assess rain deficit situation

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Union Rural Development Minister Jayram Ramesh on Thursday reached Gujarat as part of their visit four monsoon-deficient States to assess the impact of deficient rainfall and water scarcity situation.

Pawar after his arrival at Ahmedabad airport said that he and his colleague were here to assess the impact of deficient rainfall in the state and would be meeting government officials and chief minister Narendra Modi to take stock of the ground situation.

He said that after collecting data from all the four states the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on Drought, which he was heading, would take final decision as to what measures need to be take to tackle the crisis on hand. The EGoM has Finance, Food, Water and Rural Development Ministers as its members. It will also look at requests from the States for additional Central funding.

Pawar has already visited Karnataka and Maharashtra before reaching Gujarat. After visiting Gujarat tomorrow he would going to Rajasthan.

Kharif sowing, particularly in coarse cereals, pulses and oilseeds, has been hit in parts of these States owing to a shortfall in the southwest monsoon rains.