New Delhi: Citing the severe water-scarcity in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Chief Ministers of these three states to hold discussions on drought.
The Chief Ministers – Akhilesh Yadav, Devendra Fadnavis and Siddaramaiah -- have received PM Modi's invitations for separate meetings, sources said today.
At these meetings, Modi will take stock of the situation with regard to drought and water-scarcity that these states are facing, they said. UP, Maharashtra and Karnataka are worst hit by the twin problems.
The Centre has already made it clear that while it was doing its bit to provide relief to those affected by the drought, it was for the states themselves to address the situation on the ground.
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"The Centre's role is to monitor and the state's role is to provide assistance and help the affected people at ground level," Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh had said in Rajya Sabha recently while replying to a debate on drought.
"The central government does its bit, but all state governments should also do their best" in addressing the drought situation, he had said.
Singh had insisted that farmers are a priority for the central government and it was taking adequate measures.
Talking about the steps taken by the Centre, he said it has eased norms for providing relief and even the allocation for State Disaster Response Fund has been raised.
(With PTI inputs)
