ApnaBundelkhand.com, New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi's pet project for the water-starved Bundelkhand region has received
its first tranche of additional Central assistance well in time for
water-harvesting structures, ponds and dug wells to be in place before the
monsoon sets in.
Last week, on the Planning Commission's recommendation, the Centre released
Rs. 418.42 crore in grant under the Bundelkhand Drought Mitigation Package. Of
this, Rs.196.40 crore is meant for Madhya Pradesh and Rs. 222.02 crore for Uttar
Pradesh. Six districts of Madhya Pradesh and seven of Uttar Pradesh constitute
the Bundelkhand region.
"Yes, we wanted to take advantage of the monsoon season and wanted the work
to commence immediately on the schemes and structures that are required for
water conservation. The projects will cover water resources, animal husbandry
and dairying activities and watershed management,” said Sudha Pillai, Secretary,
Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission based its recommendation on the projects submitted by
the two States and approved by the National Rainfed Area Authority, which
oversees the region's development.
After the issue was taken up by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi with
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the National Rainfed Area Authority went into the
problems and submitted its recommendations for putting the region back on feet.
Accepting the report, the Centre approved Rs.7,266 crore for the development of
the region, and half of the sum will be given for completing the ongoing
projects.
Speaking to The Hindu, J.S. Samra, Chief Executive Officer of the National
Rainfed Area Authority, said his team would soon hold district-level meetings to
firm up a district plan that could be executed by both the States. While Madhya
Pradesh has a Bundelkhand authority in place, Uttar Pradesh is setting up a
mechanism.
Dr. Samra's priority would be "convergence” of ongoing schemes with new
projects, or of projects under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act
with construction of water bodies and infrastructure projects under the Backward
Region Grant Fund.
The first few district-level meetings would be held jointly with Ms. Pillai,
who has gained a rich experience by working in the rural development and labour
ministries, Dr. Samra said.