Drought, water scarcity on agenda in Modi-Gujarat CM talks

Prime Minster Narendra Modi will meet Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel in Delhi on Monday to discuss drought and water scarcity situation in the state.According to reports, the Chief Minster will be on a two day visit to the national capital from today.

This visit is a part of Prime Minister's meeting to the Chief Ministers of the drought and scarcity hit states of the country.

The state government official press release said that Patel would not meet any visitors in the state secretariat today and tomorrow due to her pre-occupation.

Earlier on May 7, the Prime Minister met the Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka and discussed and reviewed the drought and water scarcity situation in the states.

Prime Minister Modi also met Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to review the situation in 11 drought-hit states.

On May 14, the Prime Minister met Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia and chaired high-level meetings on the drought and water scarcity situation in the states.

The Centre asked states to take measures for optimally utilising and storing rainwater and also taking measures for water conservation.

Several states have raised issues like construction of farm ponds, community ponds, check dams and demanded early release of funds to take up the water harvesting measures on a priority basis.

Earlier, in a letter to the Chief Secretaries of the states, the Cabinet Secretary had asked them to take full advantage of the upcoming monsoon session to conserve the water that would be received as rainfall during this period.