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	Friday , June 16 , 2000

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Suggestions to tackle drought in State

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

RAJKOT, JUNE 15: The Ahmedabad-based Dushkal Pratirodh Samiti, engaged in providing humanitarian services to the drought victims since 1985, has, in an open letter to Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, suggested some permanent solutions to overcome drought.

It has asked the Government to declare the State as a whole to be drought-affected and not scarcity affected.

It has further asked the Government to implement the drought code and prepare a comprehensive water policy.

The Samiti has asked the Government to ban sale of water and give the panchayats full control of all available water sources in their respective villages.

Regular weekly payment, food for work scheme, cash dole for the aged and handicapped and rest day allowance in accordance with the relief manual are the other suggestions put forward by the Samiti.

The Samiti has said the relief works should be of utility value in the long run, based on classification of soil and specification of measurement of the work.

According to the Samiti, the following aspects need to be taken into consideration - divert the water of Narmada and Mahi rivers toward Saurashtra and Kutch regions in accordance with the recommendations of the Indian Irrigation Commission.

In case of water harvesting, internal and external check dams should be constructed and wells, ponds, dams should be regularly desilted and wells should be recharged. All the traditional methods of water harvesting should be reviewed.

The Samiti, in its letter, has asked the Government to consider drought as a natural calamity and start a full-fledged department with expertise in natural disaster management.