Indian cabinet clears Bundelkhand package
20 November 2009
Bundelkhand region in India has been reeling under drought for quite some time now. The central government’s special drought mitigation package of more than Rs 70 billion for the next three years promises to bring relief to the people.
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a Rs 7,277 crore Drought Mitigation Special Package for the integrated development of the drought-hit Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh from 2009 to 2010.
The package covers seven districts of Uttar Pradesh (Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalipur and Mahoba) and six districts of Madhya Pradesh (Chhatarpur, Damoh, Datia, Panna, Sagar and Tikamgarh).
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has been pressing for such a dispensation for the region.
Under the package, the main strategy will be optimisation of water resources through rainwater harvesting and proper utilisation of the river systems.
Intensive and diversified agriculture will be promoted for gain in productivity of crops, besides higher sown area in the kharif season. Animal husbandry and dairy activities will be expanded as an ancillary activity to enhance farmers’ income.
The plans proposed under the package are estimated to cost Rs 7,266 crore over three years.
Part of the cost will be met by way of converging resources from the ongoing Central government programmes and schemes.
To meet the gaps in the availability of financial resources and give a thrust to the drought mitigation package, Rs 3,450 crore in additional assistance to will be provided to the two States.
The two States will identify their agencies to draw up the project proposals.
To monitor the implementation, a monitoring group will be constituted, with the Members, Planning Commission in charge of the two States as chairperson and co-chairperson.
The Secretaries of the line departments concerned, the CEO of the National Rainfed Authority and the Chief Secretaries of the two States will be members.
The National Rainfed Authority will visit the area periodically to apprise the monitoring group of the progress.
The package covers seven districts of Uttar Pradesh (Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalipur and Mahoba) and six districts of Madhya Pradesh (Chhatarpur, Damoh, Datia, Panna, Sagar and Tikamgarh).
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has been pressing for such a dispensation for the region.
Under the package, the main strategy will be optimisation of water resources through rainwater harvesting and proper utilisation of the river systems.
Intensive and diversified agriculture will be promoted for gain in productivity of crops, besides higher sown area in the kharif season. Animal husbandry and dairy activities will be expanded as an ancillary activity to enhance farmers’ income.
The plans proposed under the package are estimated to cost Rs 7,266 crore over three years.
Part of the cost will be met by way of converging resources from the ongoing Central government programmes and schemes.
To meet the gaps in the availability of financial resources and give a thrust to the drought mitigation package, Rs 3,450 crore in additional assistance to will be provided to the two States.
The two States will identify their agencies to draw up the project proposals.
To monitor the implementation, a monitoring group will be constituted, with the Members, Planning Commission in charge of the two States as chairperson and co-chairperson.
The Secretaries of the line departments concerned, the CEO of the National Rainfed Authority and the Chief Secretaries of the two States will be members.
The National Rainfed Authority will visit the area periodically to apprise the monitoring group of the progress.
Source : The Hindu
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