Jamshedpur, April 20: The whole of India is reeling under hot and humid temperature leading to water crisis in several parts of the country.
Chaudhary Birender Singh, Union Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Sanitation and Drinking Water, on Wednesday said that there has been very little rainfall in 13 states of the country and the conditions there are very serious. Out these 13 states, 10 states have declared themselves as drought-hit.
�The ministry has released Rs 823 crore for providing drinking water facilities in drought hit states and the central government is extending full support to the state�s reeling under severe drought�, Singh said talking to the media persons in Jamshedpur on Wednesday.
The minister is in the city to review the preparations at the venue of PM Narendra Modi�s �Gramoday se Bharat Uday Abhiyan� concluding function on Sunday, April 24.
�Central funds worth Rs 1525 crore is lying with the state�s and we have asked the states reeling under severe drought to utilize 10 percent of the central funds lying with them for mitigating problems like natural calamities, even as the Centre was extending support to them.�
Singh said the central government was supporting the drought-hit states with �drinking water, fodder or any other help they may need� in this situation, the minister added.
�In future we should not depend on monsoon but will have to make arrangements for rain water harvesting and other facilities which can help farmers and state as a whole to cater to the drought-like situations.
�Out of the target km of 5.50 lakh we have built over 400km so far,� minister said. Adding that he informed that initially 2022 was the target year set by the ministry but PM has propounded the target year to 2019.
The minister also informed that now beneficiaries can avail 1.50 lakh rupees for constructing house and added that in tune with the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission government has agreed to provide minimum 80 lakh rupees to each of the panchayats.
�Over two lakh crores fund will flow to village panchayats as 14th Finance Commission grants in the next five years,� said Birendra Singh.