New Delhi: Congress general secretary Rahul
Gandhi's plans for development of Bundelkhand on Thursday received
the nod of the government which announced a special package of
Rs 7,266 crore for development of the drought-hit region that
spans across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
However, the government desisted from creating a special
authority for the purpose as had been sought by Rahul,
apparently keeping in view the sensitivities of Uttar Pradesh
and Madhya Pradesh governments.
Instead, the Cabinet, which cleared the drought-
mitigation package, decided to set up a monitoring group that
would be chaired and co-chaired by Planning Commission members
in-charge of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and include
chief secretaries of the two states.
The package for three years is aimed at optimisation of
water resources through rainwater harvesting and through
proper utilisation of river systems in seven districts of
Uttar Pradesh and six districts of Madhya Pradesh, Information
and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters after the
Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Rahul had visited the region last year and later led a
delegation of senior party leaders of the two states to the
prime minister sometime ago demanding a special package for
the drought-hit region.
Asked whether Rahul's demand for creation of a special
authority has been turned down, Soni said, "the question of
authority probably is not being felt since both the states
have been authorised to decide in the areas pertaining to
Bundelkhand for development."
Soni said a Central team had visited the region last
year and submitted its report, recommending a package of Rs
8,316 crore. However, the Cabinet approved the package of only
Rs 7,266 crore for the integrated development of the region
that would commence from 2009-10.
A part of the cost of the package will be met by
converging resources from ongoing Central programmes and
schemes, she said.
To meet the gaps in funds, an additional central plan
assistance to the tune of Rs 3,450 crore would be provided to
the two states over a period of three years.
Under the package, intensive and diversified agriculture
is to be promoted for productivity gains in the crops along
with promoting higher sown area in the Kharif season.
Animal and dairy activities will be expanded as an
ancillary activity to enhance farmers' incomes to cope with
the drought conditions, the minister said.
The emphasis in the package on watershed development and
irrigation facilities would equip the region in coping with
drought with resilience, she said.
The promotion of drought resistant arid-horticulture as
well as animal husbandry activities would diversify the
farmers' incomes to more assured sources, Soni said, adding
successful implementation of the package is expected to
mitigate the effect of drought in the region.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 21:11