Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah chaired a high-level review meeting on the impact of below-normal monsoon rainfall caused by the El Niño phenomenon, stressing the need for constant monitoring and coordinated action to tackle potential drought conditions in parts of the country. Along with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Shah directed the Ministry of Agriculture and allied departments to work closely with state governments and guide farmers on suitable crop choices.
Shah instructed the Ministry of Jal Shakti to closely monitor water availability in all reservoirs, water bodies and groundwater resources across the country. He also emphasized promoting low-water-consuming crops such as millets, pulses and fodder to reduce the impact of deficient rainfall. The Union Home Minister further asked the Ministry of Power to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply.
Officials informed the meeting that adequate stocks of essential food grains, including rice and wheat, are available and prices of essential commodities remain stable. Shah also directed the deployment of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team to assess flood, landslide and infrastructure damage in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh following recent heavy rainfall, ensuring timely evaluation and response measures.
