LS members express concern over drought, water shortage

Members in Lok Sabha today expressed concern over the unprecedented situation due to drought, scarcity of water and the heat wave in large parts of the country.
Raising the issue in the Zero Hour, Congress member Mullappally Ramachandran said the devastating drought conditions have affected more than a quarter of the 1.25 billion population.
He wanted the situation be declared as a "national disaster" and immediate assistance be provided to the people.
"People by and large are in deep distress and they are panicky about the prevailing situation", he said, adding that experts and scientific community opine that the heat wave conditions will persist for quite some time more.

"Reports say that we are experiencing the world's fifth deadliest heat wave," he said.
He said the entire country was facing acute shortage of water and reservoirs and rivers are drying up. The Supreme Court has expressed dissatisfaction about the way in which such a grave situation is being dealt with by the Union Government.
Ramachandran was supported by several members.
Sharing their concern, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu suggested that the House should have a threadbare discussion to help tide over the situation.