Measures taken to contain drought-like situation: Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Observing that a drought-like situation prevailed in Bihar due to rain deficit in several districts, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said effective measures like diesel subsidy and eight-hour power supply were being provided to the farmers to save standing crops.

There has been rainfall deficit in several districts of Bihar which has created a drought-like situation, he told reporters on the sidelines his Janata Durbar.

Effective measures like diesel subsidy to farmers and eight-hour power supply to the rural areas have been taken to save the standing crops, Kumar said, adding that farming of alternative crops requiring less water have been suggested to the farmers if the rainfall deficit sustains in time to come.

On declaring the Bihar districts as drought hit, the Chief Minister said that the situation has not aggravated to such an extent that the districts with rainfall deficit should be declared as drought-affected and added that the situation was being monitored constantly in this regard.

When time comes, we will review the situation and take appropriate measures like declaring certain districts as drought-hit and submit a report to the centre for assistance, he said.

On the law and order situation, Kumar said that the crime graph has declined in the past two months and quoted a government reported tabled in the state legislature last week.

Similarly, the power situation has improved to such an extent that our government was providing about 2000 MW electricity to consumers as against availability of 800 MW some years ago, he said.