-Business Standard Water harvesting needs attention, not just irrigation The charter of demands recently submitted by chief ministers of Drought-hit states to the central leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeks liberal assistance for the states' Drought relief efforts. These focus on managing the immediate crisis. While that is a valid concern, too few states sought aid for medium and long-term Drought mitigation and adaptation measures which are vital to blunt the...

-Business Standard Environmental activist and water expert Himanshu Thakkar tells Aditi Phadnis that India needs a comprehensive water-use policy immediately. * You are quoted as saying that India is in the grip of its worst hydrological crisis ever. Isn't that a bit drastic? After all, India has endured endemic water scarcity in many parts of the country for several years now. What makes you so pessimistic? I do not think it is statement...

-The Asian Age The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre and state governments not to hide behind the “smokescreen of lack of funds” and ordered wide-ranging relief for Drought-affected people in 12 states. These include mid-day meals during the summer vacation, addition of egg or milk to the mid-day meal menu, to universalise foodgrain rations and ensure adequate and timely release of funds for NREGA. It also ordered implementation of...

-The Indian Express The bench also issued directives for updating the Drought management manual - published in 2009 — after taking into account rainfall deficit, timely declaration of Drought and other factors. New Delhi: RULING THAT “the buck will eventually stop with the Government of India”, the Supreme Court Wednesday directed the Centre to consider Drought as a disaster and constitute a national response force along with a consolidated fund within...

Till recently agricultural production in the current crop year was expected to be adversely affected by Drought situation in more than 10 states, apart from hailstorms and excessive rainfall that happened in March. However, if one were to believe a recent forecast made by the Ministry of Agriculture, the overall foodgrain production in the country this crop year is anticipated to remain almost the same as last year. In 2014-15,...