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October     Last updated: October 14: 7:00 p.m.

Acute drought situation in Orissa
CM urges PM for Central assistance

From Our Correspondent

Chief Minister of Orissa, Shri Naveen Patnaik recently called on the Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee alongwith the Central Ministers from Orissa, S/Shri Jual Oram, Arjun Charan Sethi, Braja Kishore Tripathy, Dr Debendra Pradhan and the State Revenue Minister, Biswabhusan Harichandan. The CM presented a memorandum on the acute drought situation prevailing in the State and pleaded with Prime Minister the need for immediate Central intervention for drought mitigation. The Chief Minister pleaded for extension of Food for Work Programme to the drought-affected blocks on the same lines as was carried out in the cyclone-affected areas. The need for supplying rice both to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) and to Above Poverty Line (APL) families at the BPL rate under the Public Distribution System in the affected areas was emphasized. In order to take care of old and infirm people who are more vulnerable in such a situation the State sought for 50,000 additional beneficiaries under the National Old Age Pension scheme. The delegation explained the PM about the steps taken by the State Government such as subsidising seeds of pulses and oil seeds for the coming rabi season, subsidising diesel pumps and starting labour intensive work out of State Calamity Relief Fund and the necessity for Central release of funds for more labour intensive works. Because of the extremely scanty rainfall, there is a distinct possibility of scarcity of drinking water in both urban and rural areas and there would be need for additional number of tube wells in the drought-affected areas.

The inability of the State because of the stringent financial condition to provide matching share under the existing Centrally sponsored scheme for the rural water supply programme was explained and Central assistance was sought for providing additional tube wells in the affected areas. The delegation later pointed out that the Prime Minister agreed in principle that the State should take up a larger Food for Work Programme and cover the drought affected blocks. The Prime Minister also agreed to consider provision of subsidised rice to all the households including those above the poverty line to ensure food security.

Additional sanctions under National Old Age Pension Scheme would be considered as per a need-based assessment. The Central Government would provide the necessary support to alleviate the drinking water scarcity in the affected areas. The Prime Minister advised the Chief Minister to keep a shelf of projects ready for taking up such work at the earliest. The Chief Minister as well as other members of the delegation also strongly presented the feeling of resentment that has arisen among the people of Orissa because of delay in operationalising the East-Coast Railway Zone. The Prime Minister appreciated the case for a zonal headquarters in Orissa as it was the key infrastructure to State's development. He agreed to re-examine the whole matter so that the long cherished dream of the people of the State would come true.