Akhilesh wants ` 11k cr for tankers

With Uttar Pradesh hit by a severe drought, its Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday sought nearly `11,000 crore from the Centre as Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation in the state and directed immediate assistance.

Days after rejecting the Centre’s offer for a water train for Bundelkhand, Yadav sought financial assistance to buy 10,000 tankers to carry water to villages of the parched region and other droughthit districts of UP.

“The Centre and the state have to work together... farmers have faced the onslaught of both hail storm and drought... we want to increase the number of tankers to carry water to villagers,” Yadav told reporters after the hour-long meeting with the Prime Minister here.

Under various heads, Yadav demanded nearly 11,000 crore from the Centre for drought relief.

Asked why the state government had rejected the offer to send water train to Bundelkhand, he said there is water in Bundelkhand but his government needs means to carry it to villages.

“Can a train carry water to villages,” he questioned. At the meeting, Modi said the Centre and states have to work together to mitigate the problems faced by the people due to the drought, a PMO statement said.

Yadav apprised Modi of the efforts undertaken for mitigation of problems faced by people because of the drought conditions, it said. It was noted that the state has submitted a memorandum two days back for assistance for the Rabi 2015-16 season and the Prime Minister directed that the process be completed and assistance be provided without delay, it said. The state shared the action plan for revival and restoration of 78,000 water-bodies including tanks, ponds, and farm ponds; one lakh new water-bodies and recharge structures.

The meeting was told that an amount of `934.32 crore has been released to the state under the National Disaster Response Fund, after adjustment of the state balances.