Lucknow: Main opposition Samajwadi Party
today staged a walkout in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative
Council over their demand that the government should declare
eastern districts of the state as drought-hit.
The issue was raised during the zero hour by SP members
through an adjournment motion, stating that majority of the
districts of eastern UP were facing drought due to short
rainfall affecting farmers.
The SP claimed that three-fourths sowing could not be
done during the kharif season due to lack of rainfall in June
and July.
The party demanded that Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, Faizabad,
Allahabad and Varanasi divisions should be declared as
drought-hit.
"The government and its officers are insensitive and fund
given to districts for drought relief was returned
unutilised," Leader of the Opposition Ahmad Hasan alleged.
He said that farming was completely destroyed as water
was not reaching the tail of the canals and due to power
crisis.
Replying on behalf of the government, Leader of the House
Swami Prasad Maurya said the government was sensitive and
alert towards the problems of the people.
He said though rainfall was delayed, but its average was
normal in the state. "In 19 districts, rainfall was 80-120 per
cent. It was between 60 and 80 per cent in 22 districts. There
are only 12 districts where less than 40 per cent rainfall was
recorded."
Maurya said the government in April had issued directives
asking officials to remain prepared for a drought-like
situation in any part of the state.
Dissatisfied with the reply of the government, the SP
members staged a walk out in the House, while Chairman Ganesh
Shanker Pandey rejected the adjournment motion.
PTI
