The highest body of the country meant to finally approve Central assistance to any State under drought relief head would look into the demand pressed by Jharkhand. To deal with the acute drought prevailing here in the State through disaster management department has put forth demand of Rs 2,142 crore in addition to the amount sought by the Cabinet earlier.
The demand has been pressed for the consideration of the Center following the inter-ministerial nine member team had toured seven districts of the State last month to get a feel about severity of monsoon failure in Jharkhand.
“Officials of the department have had a meeting in Delhi on January 12 in the backdrop of the Inter Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) visit. We have presented a comprehensive demand and plan related to immediate and long term relief measures and also sought for additional Rs 2142 crore,” said Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, Project Manager with the Department.
IMCT after its visit had concluded that condition of kharif crop in the State was extremely poor and had rated the overall situation alarming. Jalaj Srivastava, Additional Secretary of Union Agriculture Department, who was leading the team had also underlined the need to make Jharkhand drought-proof in long term while sounding okay with additional financial assistance apart from the Cabinet note, i.e. Rs 1140 crore.
“We went into huddle and consulted all the concerned Departments. Various additional plans came for strengthening irrigation system through ponds, wells and check dams keeping future needs of the State. Thus we have pressed for the supplementary memorandum. If approved, the State would get Rs 3,282 crore from the Center for various drought relief measures,” said Bhagwan Das Joint Secretary with the Department.
The State Government earlier declared the State drought-hit and sought an assistance of over Rs 1,140 crore – Rs 216.39 crore for agriculture, Rs 30.77 crore for urban areas, Rs 170.39 crore for drinking water and sanitation, and Rs 723.21 crore for water resources — from the Centre.
Inputs coming in suggest that one more meeting with the Union Government would pave way for the release of the aid and work on ground would take place thereafter. “Although date has not been fixed yet, but we expect final meeting by the end of this month or early next month for the approval coming from the Center,” said an official of the Chief Minister’s Office.
Due to scanty rainfall this monsoon most part of the State is facing drought. The situation was no different from last three consecutive years when Jharkhand witnessed just 83 per cent rainfall in 2012, 72 per cent in 2013 and 75 per cent in 2014 of normal. IMCT during its trip had assessed situation firsthand in Ranchi, Palamau, Chaibasa, lohardaga, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh and Saraikela and presented a report with the Center.
In its demand the State is reported to has chalked out detailed plan to deal with fodder management, soil management, ground water depletion and introduction of alternative crops in case of similar situation arising in future. Besides, immediate attention would be on managing upcoming rabi crops. Also, 10 per cent fund of State Disaster Relief Fund can now be spent to deal with drinking water shortage which has been included into the special local disaster list.