Kerala: All-party meet on ration, drought
Following the implementation of the Food Security Act the allocation was cut to 14.25 lakh metric tonne.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is all set to evolve a consensus on ration quota and drought, the two critical issues confronting the people of the state, at the all party meeting to be held here on Wednesday. A decision on sending an all party delegation to Delhi for urging Prime Minister and food minister to restore ration quota of the state, will be taken at the meeting. “All parties are on board on the issue of restoration of ration quota. Lakhs of families have been deprived of the statutory ration quota.
During the last meeting that chief minister had with Prime Minter in Delhi, the latter had given a positive response , However, nothing concrete came after that. We hope the Centre will act favourably," Food Minister P. Thilothaman told DC. He said the BJP state unit was also on board on the issue. The all party meeting is also set to pass a resolution urging the Centre to provide 16.02 lakh metric tonne of grains as ration allocation. Following the implementation of the Food Security Act the allocation was cut to 14.25 lakh metric tonne. According them as per FSA norms state was entitled to get only 14.25 lakh metric tonne of food grains.
The other important issue being discussed at the all arty meeting is the severe drought the state is passing through. While the reservoir based drinking water schemes are still managing to meet the demand of people, the problem is grave in areas where these schemes are not linked to reservoirs. “We are already in the midst of a severe drought. We hope summer showers will provide some relief. But if summer showers also deceive us then we might have to go for strict regulations like rationing of drinking water,” Water Resources Minister Mathew T. Thomas told DC.
The government has appealed to the people to cooperate in water conservation activities undertaken by the government and check misuse of water, he added. The minister said at the all party meeting, the government will try to come up with long term and short term strategy to conserve water, revive and protect water sources including lakes, ponds and streams under the Haritha Keralam Mission.