J’khand: Soren Reviews Drought Situation, Chalks Out Relief Plan

RANCHI | Updated: 03 September, 2022 9:58 pm IST

Chief minister Hemant Soren took a slew of decisions to deal with the drought situation in some parts of Jharkhand in a high-level meeting with senior government officers here on Saturday.

A total of 112 out of 264 blocks in the state are facing a drought-like situation, with Santhal and Palamu Pargana divisions being the hardest hit, as per an official.

During the meeting, the chief minister instructed the officials concerned to conduct a survey and prepare a report on the status of rainfall and paddy sowing in each block and district of the state.

He also instructed the officials to prepare a detailed plan to provide relief to farmers, labourers, and stockbreeders in the affected areas.

CM Soren was briefed by the senior government officers on the situation of rainfall in different regions of Jharkhand.

Officers have to visit Santhal and Palamu Pargana divisions to assess the ground situation, and prepare and file a detailed report so that effective steps can be taken as soon as possible, he told the senior officials.

To begin with, he said, kutcha roads should be built in the affected areas so that employment opportunities can be provided to farmers and labourers.

He directed officials to prepare schemes in agriculture, animal husbandry, irrigation, rural development, MNREGA, drinking water and other departments to provide jobs in order to mitigate the plight of the affected population.

Expressing concerns over the migration of labourers out of the state, chief minister Soren said small farmers and labourers should be accorded priority in employment opportunities in development works being undertaken by the government departments.

The overall sowing coverage in the state remained at 37.19 per cent and the paddy sowing coverage was recorded at 30 per cent against the targeted sowing area.

The state is faced with the natural calamity at a time when uncertainty over the chief minister’s post is looming large in wake of media reports that the Governor has cancelled his Assembly membership in an office of profit case.