Ujjain: The ‘jal roko abhiyan’ to be held in view on scanty rainfall, that has lead to a drought like situation will feature several efforts like filling gaps and breaks in water structures and farmlands with polythene bags filled with soil, said state home and transport minister and district in charge Bhupendra Singh, at a press conference held at Simhastha Fair Authority, here on Thursday afternoon.
He said directives have been issued to prepare an effective action plan to deal with the situation. He claimed that the farmers were on the government’s highest priority and thus onion was procured from them to the tune of Rs 700 crore, which included highest procurement of Rs 108, from the farmers of Ujjain district.
Singh also chaired the meeting of the district planning committee, which took stock of the water crisis. He directed agriculture and water resources departments to work together and give farmers the real picture, taking all of them into confidence to deal with the situation. He said farmers should be encouraged to sow crops consuming less water like sarson, alsi, etc. Special meetings should also be organised at the village level to make them aware, he added.
Singh, who arrived in the district after a gap of about five months, remained here for just two hours. Before participating in official engagements, he paid a visit to the Mahakaleshwar temple where he performed ‘pujan-archan’ of the presiding deity along with his wife. He also visited the ancient Harsiddhi Mandir to pay obeisance to the presiding deity on account of Navratri festival.
