GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd July: Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday reviewed the impact of below-normal monsoon rainfall in parts of the country due to El Niño and directed ministries and state governments to remain vigilant against potential drought conditions.
Chairing a high-level meeting attended by senior officials from multiple ministries, Shah directed the Ministry of Agriculture and allied departments to coordinate closely with state governments and advise farmers on suitable crops based on rainfall conditions.
The Home Minister instructed the Ministry of Jal Shakti to closely monitor all water bodies, including major reservoirs, smaller water bodies and groundwater levels across the country to ensure effective water management during the monsoon season.
He also stressed the need to promote alternative crops requiring less water, including fodder, millets and pulses, to minimise the impact of deficient rainfall on agricultural production.
Shah directed the Ministry of Power to take necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted and adequate electricity supply across the country amid evolving weather conditions.
During the meeting, officials informed the ministers that adequate stocks of essential food grains, including rice and wheat, are available in the country and that prices of essential commodities remain stable.
The review meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources, Consumer Affairs, Power, Rural Development, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the National Disaster Management Authority, the India Meteorological Department, the Central Water Commission, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute and the National Remote Sensing Centre.
Shah also directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to depute an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to assess damage caused by recent heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides. The team will evaluate losses to infrastructure, agriculture and residential areas to facilitate appropriate assistance.
