-The Hindu Supreme Court's observations on Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana its judgment on the PIL filed by Swaraj Abhiyan on drought The Supreme Court said on Wednesday that Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana were hesitant to even acknowledge, let alone address, a drought or a drought-like situation. They had not disclosed the full facts about the conditions prevailing in their States. It was hearing a PIL filed by Swaraj Abhiyan seeking relief for drought-hit...

-Livemint.com New Delhi: Despite widespread drought in 11 states across the country, India’s foodgrain production is actually set to grow marginally, the third advance estimates released by the agriculture ministry on Monday showed. Total foodgrain production in 2015-16 is estimated at 252.23 million tonnes, marginally higher than 252.02 million tonnes produced in 2014-15, the data shows. If the estimates hold up, it would imply that the damage to the agrarian economy is less...

-The Hindu Business Line While kharif crops will be affected, rabi crops have assured irrigation Depleted reservoirs and parched lands await the onset of the south-west monsoon. The water level in key reservoirs across the country is fast receding, going by data from the Central Water Commission (CWC). The storage levels in 91 reservoirs have dropped from 95.693 bcm (billion cubic metres) in September to 72 bcm in December and are now...

-Livemint.com Compensation for crop loss due six months ago is yet to reach farmers, says Swaraj Abhiyan Villages across drought-hit Bundelkhand, a hilly region divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, are reporting an abnormally high number of cattle deaths due to acute shortage of fodder and water, said a survey released on Monday. “For cattle the famine has arrived,” the survey by non-profit organization Swaraj Abhiyan said, adding,...

-Press Note from Swaraj Abhiyan A latest survey of the drought stricken Bundelkhand region lying across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh shows a crisis bordering on famine. While rains are at least 6-8 weeks away, drinking water crisis has hit its peak and has crossed the danger mark in the MP part of the region. Those living on the margins of society face hunger like situation and are being pushed...