When 40 million farmers in Gujarat were hit by WORST DROUGHT Narendra Modi demanded Rs.14,673 crores (Actual Crop Loss Rs.49000 crores) from Central Government presenting detailed estimates. GOI immediately provided Rs.425 crores relief and made special provision to allow 150 days work under NREGA.
But Modi since first week of August 2012 from Gujarat side contributed just Rs.300 crores as one time ‘Interest Subsidy’ after 40 days.
Actual Crop Loss to farmers was Rs.8000 crores due to Foodgrains, Rs,10,000 crores due to Oilseeds and Rs.21,000 crores due to Cotton plus Rs.10,000 crores for other crops etc= Rs.49,000 crores.
GDP loss was even more.
Ravinder Singh
September16 2012
Gujarat GDP Down -10% Cotton & Groundnut Failed, Industry Struggling (C)
Gujarat economy is SEVERELY Hit by Drought, Cultivation of Non Food Crops on 75% Cropped Area, Failure of the Canal Irrigation when dams overflow and canal was run at 15% capacity to 50% these days, 10,0000 factories are closed and wasteful unproductive investment on over designed Narmada Network, Excess Power Generation Capacity as Vibrant Gujarat MOUs didn’t come up and Modi let Reliance Drill and take out Oil & Gas from Deen Dayal Discoveries etc.
Monsoon is almost over – and as per reports here – Gujarat suffered worst drought in history when rainfall upto Janamashtami was barely 15% and 98mm in Saurashtra that planted cotton on 1.386 million hectare 58% out of 2.375 million hectares for state. Area under cultivation too was down by 20% and 90% of it was severely affected by drought conditions in June, July and first week of August.
Overall state received just 22% rains up to August07 2012 and South Gujarat received 391mm of rains but in second report contributes only 10% of cultivable area. Heavy rains this month has caused more damage to whatever was growing and second or third crop sown by farmers. But this has assured upcoming Rabi crop will be at least average.
Year
|
Foodgrains
|
Oilseeds
|
Cotton
|
2007-08
|
8206.0
|
4725.0
|
8276.0
|
2008-09
|
6481.0
|
4015.9
|
7013.8
|
2009-10
|
6064.0
|
2990.0
|
7875.0
|
2010-11
|
7852.3
|
3911.9
|
10500.0
|
2011-12
|
9066.0
|
4931.0
|
12000.0
|
2012-13
|
5000.0
|
2000.0
|
5000.0
|
Thousand tones and thousand bales of 170kg. for cotton
GDP loss due to food-grains including pulses – Rs.8000 crores, Oilseeds loss of GDP including mill production loss Rs.15,000 crores, Cotton GDP loss including ginning, Cotton seed oil etc at Rs.50,000 per bale is Rs.35,000 crores. Loss of other crops Rs.15000 crores = Rs.73,000 crores.
Gujarat seeks Rs.14,673-crore Central assistance to tackle severe drought in the state
“Centre should overhaul the drought relief packages criteria, with more discretionary amounts to affected states”
“Gujarat to present its detailed memorandum before the Central team to consider the requirements on August 7-8, 2012”
– Narendra Modi
Gandhinagar, Friday: Gujarat Government today sought Central assistance of Rs.14,673-crore as per preliminary estimate immediately needed for agriculture, drinking water, irrigation, fodder, employment and other relief measures to tackle the specter of impending severe drought looming large over the state.
Presenting a memorandum to the Central team led by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar here today, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said the rainfall deficit in the Saurashtra & Kutch region amounted to 79 per cent of the last ten years’ average and 58 per cent in north Gujarat.
Mr. Pawar is accompanied by Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and secretaries of the departments concerned at the Centre. Gujarat Government was represented by Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala, Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel, Water Resource Minister Nitin Patel, Agriculture Minister Dilip Sanghani and Minister of State for Energy Saurabh Patel, Chief Secretary A. K.Joti, Water Resources Adviser B.N. Navlawala and Secretaries.
Presenting a forceful pitch for the Central assistance, Mr. Modi suggested massive overhaul in the Central policy for providing drought relief packages. Since the adverse effects of truant monsoon last longer, he said the Centre should leave 30 per cent of SRDF amount to the discretion of respective state to spend. The present criterion of Rs.3,000 per hectare assistance in rain-fed areas for drinking water, cattle camp, fodder, transportation, seeds, cash doles, etc is too inadequate.
He further pointed out that the Central announcements for immediate drought relief packages from regular budgeted accounts are also inadequate and advance installments too slow. The Centre could make provision for contingency expenditure in the budget itself and disburse the necessary amount without delay.
Referring to steps already taken by Gujarat Government, Mr. Modi said that a three-pronged monsoon contingency plan has already been put in place for all the 26 districts in the state, to provide one-lakh new electricity connections for agricultural purposes at a cost of Rs.1,500-crore, complete all missing links in Narmada canal-based pipeline projects to supply drinking water in drought-prone areas, and growing grass as fodder to meet the demand for next three months.
Mr. Modi said that a progressive state like Gujarat should be provided higher allocation for effective management of funds, which would eventually help the entire nation.
Mr. Modi said that the state agencies should be allowed to directly import edible oil. He urged the Central team to ensure the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) dam’s height be raised to help store more water and produce more electricity. He said that Gujarat is one of the very few power surplus states and the Centre should help it provide gas at cheaper rates so that Gujarat can provide up to 2000 MW power to deficit states. The Centre should also help Gujarat increase its milk production to feed the nation.
Responding to the Gujarat Government’s presentation, Mr. Pawar said that the memorandum be submitted to the Centre, and as per the mandate this Central Committee will meet on August 7 and 8, 2012 to take appropriate decisions on short-term and long-term provisions from time-to-time.
Mr. Ramesh assured to immediately release Rs.425-crore for rural drinking water supply. He said that 100 days doles provided under NREGA is per family and not per individual. However, he said, the Centre is considering extending increase the duration to 150 days in a year.
Modi restores power subsidy in drought-hit districts
Published: September 13, 2012
PTI
PTI Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi addresses a rally during the month-long Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra in Mehsana district.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced a slew of sops for farmers facing hardships due to crop failure in wake of drought like conditions prevailing in the poll-bound State due to deficient rainfall.
“It has been decided that interest on the crop loans taken by farmers, hit by the drought like conditions, shall be borne by the state-government, which would be around Rs 300 crore,” Mr. Modi told media on the sidelines of his Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra.
“The government has also decided to give 50 per cent relief in the electricity bills of such farmers,” he said.
“Its also the responsibility of state government to be concerned about farmers who are facing hardships, on account of drought like situation prevailing in Gujarat, earlier,” Modi said.
The monsoon arrival in this part of Western coast was somewhat delayed this year. It touched Gujarat coast around June 17, but afterwards remained static for a long time, leading to drought like conditions in many parts of the state.
Regions of Kutch and Saurashtra were the worst hit with over 70 per cent deficient rainfall reported, in first spell of monsoon.
However, now the situation has changed somewhat in the last fortnight with rains lashing the state.
Hit by crop failure, several farmers mainly from Saurashtra region had committed suicide.
Opposition Congress has made farmers suicide a major issue ahead of the polls in Gujarat, accusing the ruling BJP government of inaction.
