PM to meet CMs of UP, Maha, K'taka to discuss drought crisis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka on Saturday to discuss and review the drought and water scarcity in the states.

The Chief Ministers of the drought-hit states will meet the Prime Minister separately.

Ministers and officials of the concerned Ministries will be present at the meeting.

Apart from taking stock of the situation, Prime Minister Modi will also review steps taken by the states to address drought-related problems.

The Prime Minister will also seek details of progress of relief work in the meeting with the Chief Ministers.

Recently, Cabinet Secretary P. K. Sinha had directed all the Ministries dealing with the drought situation to release additional funds to the states as soon as the Finance Bill gets approved. He said it was necessary as the onset of monsoon is approaching soon.

He called for coordinated and integrated action plan by the Centre as well as the state governments.

The Centre asked states to take measures for optimally utilising and storing rainwater and also taking measures for water conservation.

Several states have raised issues like construction of farm ponds, community ponds, check dams and demanded early release of funds to take up the water harvesting measures on a priority basis.

Earlier, in a letter to the Chief Secretaries of the states, the Cabinet Secretary had asked them to take full advantage of the upcoming monsoon session to conserve the water that would be received as rainfall during this period.