In view of probable drought in the State, Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan has directed all Divisional Commissioners and District Magistrates (DMs) to make available the essential facilities to farmers at district level as per the action plan on priority.
He said that Irrigation and Power department officers should jointly ensure regular monitoring of the exercise to enhance capacity of tube-wells affected due to low voltage through weekly meetings.
He also said that along with necessary medical services to prevent contagious diseases in flood affected districts, medical teams should also be available in related areas. He said that districts, where rains had been below normal should be identified and prompt approval should be taken at competent level to declare them drought-affected.
The Chief Secretary was presiding over the meeting of State level natural calamity relief committee here today. He said that necessary action should be taken on priority to identify and declare districts with less than 50% rains as ‘drought-affected’. He instructed to immediately prepare and send memorandum to Government of India for obtaining the necessary funds required for providing essential services to farmers of districts, which were to be declared drought-affected. He said that in view of probable drought, revenue collection should be deferred in concerned districts till March 31, 2015.
The meeting was attended by Agriculture Production Commissioner
Mr. V.N. Garg, Principal Secretary Revenue Mr. K.S. Atoria, Principal Secretary Panchayati Raj Mr. Chanchal Kumar Tiwari, Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry Mr. Anant Kumar Singh along with senior official of the departments.