Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Drought Situation Prevailing In The Country. on 25 April, 2016
Sixteenth Loksabha an> Title: Regarding drought situation prevailing in the country.
SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMCHANDRAN (VADAKARA): Respected Madam Speaker, with your kind consent I wish to draw the attention of this august House to an unprecedented situation prevailing in our country following the heat wave and the drought. Our country is reeling under devastating drought conditions which has affected more than a quarter of the 1.25 billion population and even more number of cattle, birds and animals. People by and large are in deep distress and they are panicky about the prevailing situations.
Experts and scientific community opine that the heat wave conditions will persist for quite some time more. Temperature exceeds 47 degrees Celsius in most parts of the country. Reports say that we are experiencing the world’s fifth deadliest heat wave. The findings of researchers on the death toll due to heat wave are stunning.
The State of Kerala which is usually known for its pleasant climatic conditions and endowed with 44 rivers is also this year witnessing acute shortage of drinking water and the heat is more than 42 degrees Celsius.
The entire country is facing acute shortage of water and reservoirs and rivers are drying up. The Supreme Court has expressed dissatisfaction about the way in which such a grave situation is being dealt with by the Union Government.
Now, only contingency action plan is being worked out by the Union Government to meet the exigencies. But what is required is a prospective planning, taking all stakeholders on board and a holistic approach is to be adopted by the Union Government.
I urge upon the Union Government to treat this situation following heat wave and drought as a national disaster and immediate steps must be taken on top priority to reach assistance to the affected States including Maharashtra and other places which are reeling under drought from Bihar and all parts of Northern India.
HON. SPEAKER:
Shri Sankar Prasad Datta, Shri Dushyant Chautala, Shri Jagdambika Pal, Shri Kirti Azad, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Shri Rabindra Kumar Jena, are permitted to associate with the issue raised by Shri Mullapally Ramchandran. THE MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT, MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU): Madam Speaker, there is a serious situation in certain parts of the country. Kerala, Bihar, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra, Odisha and a number of States are facing acute drinking water shortage and also drought situation. I urge upon the Chair to include… (Interruptions) श्री कांति लाल भूरिया (रतलाम) : आप यह पेपर देखिये, इसमें क्या-क्या दिया हुआ है...(व्यवधान) श्री एम. वैंकैय्या नायडू :आप बैठिये...(व्यवधान)
माननीय अध्यक्ष : आई नो, बात क्या है?
श्री एम. वैंकैय्या नायडू : इस पर राजनीति करने से कोई फायदा नहीं है। इसलिए मेरा सुझाव यह होगा कि इसका एक उचित नोटिस दें कि आप इस पर समय अलाट कीजिए। सरकार विस्तार से स्थिति को सुनने के बाद में जो भी करना है, वह क्या कर रही है, यह सदन को बतायेंगे। हम सब मिलकर सिचुएशन को कैसे फेस करें, वह करेंगे। माननीय अध्यक्ष : श्योर, श्योर। श्री भैरों प्रसाद मिश्र जी, आप बोलिये।