After two days of protest over declaring Bihar as drought hit, an RJD legislator on Wednesday ended his fast, even as the Assembly decided to discuss in detail the issue through a special debate on Friday.
RJD MLA from Jagdishpur in Bhojpur district, Dinesh Kumar Singh, who had been on dharna in front of the main entrance of the Assembly since Monday, demanding release of canal water and declaring the state as drought hit, ended his agitation upon the intervention of former chief minister Rabri Devi.
Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said in the Assembly that the government was prepared for a special debate on drought like condition prevailing, if the chair decides to do so.
The Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary fixed Friday for the discussion. Replying to 'call attention motion' of Leader of Opposition Nand Kishore Yadav, the CM said, "The state government is very sensitive to the matter and it will again hold a video-conferencing with all the District Magistrates to get a feedback on drought." The CM highlighted that he was wrongly briefed by the District Magistrates about the situation prevailing in the state due to the shortage of rainfall.
Referring to the official report on Patna district, Manjhi said during a visit to Dulhin Bazar, interior area of Patna district, he found the situation on the ground contrary to what the District Magistrate had said. "There was no water in the canals and the farmers were using diesel generators to pump out ground water to irrigate their fields. I enquired and found out that the water has not been released. The government took initiative and gave Rs 6 crore to Madhya Pradesh to release water into the Sone River from its Bansagar dam. Additional water will be released by July 25," said Manjhi.
The CM also said that he was angry that the District Magistrates had submitted a wrong report by just sitting in their offices. "I will give them one more opportunity. I have asked them to go out in the district, inspect the situation and give a report on the ground reality. I will hold a video-conferencing with them on the coming Friday or Saturday," the CM said. Raising the issue of drought in the House, Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Nand Kishore Yadav said 28 districts have received less than 19 per cent of the average rainfall and the farmers are facing a tough time in sowing saplings.
Yadav said people were worried as they were getting different versions on drought-like conditions and the Chief Minister had himself stated that the administrative officials gave him false report during the 'drought review meeting'.
Yadav also referred to the agitation by the RJD MLA and said that his party wants drought to be declared in all the districts of Bihar. Earlier, before the House met, BJP legislators led by their party's chief whip Arun Kumar Sinha demonstrated over the issue of drought at the main gate of the Assembly and raised anti-government slogans.
They also alleged that the state government was not paying attention to the plight of farmers.
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