Bihar to declare 26 disticts as drought affected

NATURE'S TEST TO BIHAR'S PATIENCE CONTINUES

All party meeting convened by Nitish Kumar, CM of Bihar was attended by almost all political parties in Patna on Sunday. Keeping in view the unprecedented drought like situation in at least 26 of 38 districts in the state, all political parties unanimously resolved to provide support to the state govt in its fight against the woes of farmer. The Chief Secretary made a power point and documentary presentation before the leaders about the rainfall and subsequent sowing of paddy in all the districts. The Meteorological department has also informed that Bihar has received at least 70-80% less rain fall than the average.

Briefing the media after meeting, Nitish Kumar said that a formal decision to declare 26 districts as ‘drought affected districts’ would be taken on Tuesday, the 11^{th August}. He further elaborated and informed the press that the state government has prepared a blue print to fight drought and mitigate the agony of the poor and farmers. 2-5 Crore families would be provided relief by giving them 1 quintal of food grains and 250 Rs/family/month. He stressed the need to enhance the minimum wage to 200 days from existing 100 days under NREGS.

The DMs of all the drought affected districts are assembling on Monday to discuss the modalities and modes of implementation of programmes and measures to fight the drought. The CM is also likely to address the district officials. It has also been decided that the state government would place demand before the Union Government for grant and aid from Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) so that succour could be provided to the affected population. Apart from monetary help, the state government is also likely to demand 22.5 lakh tons of food grain from Union government.

Sources say that the situation in state is grim and only 12 districts have more than 70% sown areas of paddy. These districts are East and West Champaran, Sheohar, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Saharsa, Supaul, Purnea, Araria, and Khagaria. Thus except these districts, all 26 remaining districts are to be put up under drought affected districts. Bihar is, at present, facing twin natural calamities simultaneously. One the one hand districts in North Bihar like Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Supaul etc are flood affected, south Bihar is witnessing scanty or no rain fall. This is the third consecutive year in a row that Bihar is subjected to natural calamities at such a huge scale.