CM reviews contingency plan for scarcity-hit Bhavnagar district
Calls upon officials to turn the difficult times of water scarcity into opportunity and
come up with the best model of disaster management for the situation of drought
Appeals to construct permanent resources for water conservation through NREGA
“State’s condition in the water scarcity of this year is far different from that of past years” - CM
Ahmedabad, Saturday: In a meeting held with Bhavnagar district administration to review the contingency plan to deal with rain scarcity Chief Minister Narendra Modi said the state’s condition in the water scarcity of this year is far different from that of past years. “This year we have availability of Narmada water. Moreover, we have activated the administration with an advance contingency plan to deal with drought conditions with better measures in water management”, he said.Chief Minister asked the officials to think ‘out-of-box’ and do away with the old-fashioned relief manuals while planning relief measures for scarcity areas. While the state government will leave no stone unturned in helping the people, he said, various moves can be planned with people’s participation too. He stressed on the distribution of sukhadi with people’s participation to combat with malnutrition in scarcity year. He appealed to construct permanent resources for water conservation through NREGA.
He said the state government is going to ask the Centre to provide the stretch of land along both the sides of railway tracks for cultivation of fodder. This way we can make a productive use of the land which otherwise stay unused and produce food for the animals in the tough time, he said. He hoped the Centre will take positive approach and will provide the land on lease, initially for one year.
Chief Minister sought information regarding Narmada-based pipelines and underground as well as rechargeable water resources available in urban and rural areas of Bhavnagar district. He stressed on using waste water treatment management model for the cultivation of vegetables in the surrounding areas of the city. He also suggested undertaking the disilting work of all the water resources in a big way under NREGA scheme to make available the drinking water.
He also asked Forest department for undertaking construction of terrace-pond and digging for the tree plantation in the hilly regions under NREGA. Chief Minister also reviewed the preparedness regarding drinking water, irrigation, agriculture, fodder and employment under district contingency plan.
Chief Minister called upon officials to turn the difficult times of water scarcity into an opportunity and come up with the best model of disaster management for the situation of drought.
Finance Minister Saurabh Patel, MPs, MLAs, Secretary in-charge, relief commissioner, district collector, municipal commissioner, district development officer and other officials were present in the meet.
