Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met chief ministers of Uttar Pradhesh and Maharashtra, Akhilesh Yadav and Devendra Fadnavis, and discussed ways to address the current drought and water scarcity crisis in the two states.
In separate meetings with Akhilesh Yadav and Devendra Fadnavis, PM Modi called for focus on medium and long term solutions for drought-proofing. CMs of both states apprised PM Modi of the steps taken to provide relief to drought hit farmers and people.
From water conservation, urban waste water treatment and drip irrigation to use of GPS and other modern technologies, we take a look at five ways PM Modi suggested to each leader:
Uttar Pradesh:
> Modi emphasised on the need to use of technologies like remote sensing and satellite imaging for planning of water conservation and recharge structures.
> The need to change cropping patterns based on scientific advice, use of drip and sprinkler irrigation, and fertigation for increasing water use efficiency, community participation, especially women, for better water management, was stressed.
> He said that treated urban waste water should be used for farming in adjoining areas.
> He mentioned the need to monitor delivery of water through tankers in the affected areas, using technology such as GPS.
> The meeting also discussed how best the period before the upcoming monsoon can be utilized for water conservation and recharge efforts. This includes efforts at desilting, recharging of rivers, check dams and other water storage mechanisms.
Maharashtra:
> PM Modi said that the centre, states, local bodies, NGOs and citizens have to work together to resolve the problems posed by drought.
> Importance of increasing water use efficiency through drip and sprinkler system was stressed on. PM Modi said that drip irrigation in sugarcane increases the quality of sugar.
> He also spoke of the need to adopt a judicious mix of traditional and modern water conservation and storage mechanisms. He said that a lot can be learnt from the water management practices and measures adopted by Chhatrapati Shivaji.
> Modern solid and liquid waste management practices in urban areas, \could yield enhanced water and organic fertilizer availability in adjoining rural areas, he said.
> PM emphasized crop diversification, value-addition, and broadbasing the sources of income for farmers, by connecting dairying, fishery, poultry, bee-keeping etc. He also underlined the natural hedging from vagaries of nature because of broadbasing of income.
The Centre has released Rs 9,367 crore to drought-hit states under MGNREGA in 2016-17, Parliament was informed on Friday. Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Haryana and Rajasthan are reeling under drought.