Modi reviews drought conditions in Jharkhand, Rajasthan

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a high level meeting on drought situation with the Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das, in New Delhi on May 14, 2016. (Photo: IANS/PIB)

New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired high-level meetings to reviewed the drought and water scarcity situations in parts of Rajasthan and in Jharkhand.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who was present at the meeting along with senior officials, explained in detail, the difficulties being faced by people in various parts of the state due to the shortage of drinking water, official sources said here.

Raje also informed the prime minister about the Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan, under which 7 lakh water conservation structures are to come up in four years.

Modi called for a mass movement to be generated for water conservation, and said youth organizations including National Cadets Corps (NCC),and Scouts and Guides should be involved in creation of water storage structures.

He also stressed on the importance of waste water management and rooftop rainwater harvesting.

In a separate meeting with Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das, the prime minister also called for generating a mass movement for soil health cards and said “mobilization, momentum and mechanism” are all required to make the soil health card programme a success.

Modi and others in the meeting were informed that Jharkhand plans to double its irrigated area from 19 percent to 40 percent in the next two years. “One lakh farm ponds are planned to be built under the state plan, and an additional five lakh farm ponds will be built under MNREGA,” an official source said.

Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh was present in both the meetings, the source added.