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This year's drought worst in recent times: Ajit

Describing this year's drought as the worst in recent times, Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh on Friday assured the Rajya Sabha that all drought-hit states would be given assistance and rejected an opposition charge that the Centre had played politics while deciding on the quantum of relief.

"Government is fully aware of the serious situation arising from this year's drought. Money will not be a hindrance while providing relief. There is no question of any political discrimination," he said replying to a short discussion on the drought.

Observing that July 2002 was the "driest" month in the last 127 years, Singh said the worst-affected state was Rajasthan for which the Centre on November 16 sanctioned Rs 9 crore (Rs 90 million) as relief for saving cattle and other livestocks.

Maintaining that the central assistance for drought-hit states was till January 31 next year, the minister said the Centre would seriously consider fresh demands for relief provided the states comply with necessary legal provisions for the purpose.

Observing that the Centre was actively considering implementation of a mega project to link all major rivers to find a long-term solution to drought, Singh asked the states to utilise the Calamity Relief Fund before approaching the Centre.

In his detailed reply, Singh expressed concern over reports of starvation deaths and said ways have to be found to provide succour to the undernourished and malnourished.

The government, he said, was also looking into other long-term measures of water harvesting as it considered water to be a national resource.

"We have to work on traditional methods of water conservation to tanks and ponds," he said adding macro management schemes have already been devised as the public distribution system had practically collapsed.

Referring to the central assistance of Rs 2000 crore (Rs 20 billion) announced by the Task Force headed by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, the minister said the relief assistance was only till January-end and more money could be sanctioned if required.

Maintaining that the rainfall shortage this year was 20 per cent as against 24 per cent in 1987 and 30 per cent in 1972, Singh said the damage caused by the drought was more severe than in previous occasions as crops could not be sown because July was very dry.

"The drought has led to changes in the soil situation, lowered the water table and seriously affected children, especially in Rajasthan where farmers are not giving milk to their children," he said.

Giving statistics on crop damage, he said 75 per cent of crops had been lost in Rajasthan, 53 per cent in MP, 48 in Haryana, 39 in Orissa and 33 in Uttar Pradesh.

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