Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking a proactive stand on prevailing drought in the country Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that for the first time in our country, Prime Minister sat with Chief Ministers of drought affected states for as long as two-hour and has shown such seriousness with
giving immediate relief to the people suffering from famine , water -scarcity and had detailed discussions on agriculture .
Singh appealed to the drought-affected states that they take immediate steps to fight drought and review it on week to week basis. The Minister said this while briefing the press reporters in Delhi on Wednesday.
Minister said Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met Chief Ministers of the drought affected states over last fortnight. The last meeting of the Prime Minister was on May 17 with Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Earlier, Prime Minister met chief minister of Telangana, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka.
The Prime Minister engaged the State Governments on issues that needed immediate resolution. The problems faced currently, action taken and the proposed steps- short term on weekly basis, long term mitigation along with drought proofing measures specific to individual States were discussed in detail.
Each State was requested to prepare an Action Plan on a weekly basis to tide over challenges like shortage and scarcity of drinking water, conservation efforts and usage of existing water resource optimally and prudently. For its preparation and implementation, the States were requested to use innovation/ technologies to address the challenge of water conservation and water security.
States were requested to undertake a major drive for construction of farm ponds, adopt micro irrigation and diversify into crops requiring less water. The States would promote water storage and water conservation practices and rejuvenate water bodies. While promoting dug wells and farm ponds, the State will incentivise solar pumps for
irrigation.
Some of the proposed actions included integrated action plan to be developed for water conservation, desiltation of irrigation tanks, rain water harvesting, ground water recharge, watershed development, maintenance of check dams, percolation tanks, lining of canals, prevention of water leakage and pilferage in distribution network.