CHRONICALLY PARCHED Bundelkhand, drought-dry for nearly half a decade, could have done with some hope this year, particularly after a surprise season of record rain.

Lucknow: Chief minister Mayawati

It is not just the temperature that is rising in Madhya Pradesh but also the anxiety over water supply. Water has become so scarce that while people at some places are hiring armed guards to prevent its theft, at others they have been found using a lottery system to fill their buckets.

Madhya Pradesh government has sought assistance of Rs 1548.91 crore from the Central government for drought relief works. A memorandum in this regard was presented to a central team, which has arrived here to assess the drought situation in the state at meeting with senior officers of the state government here today.

The recently completed assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh witnessed an unprecedented public practise. In the drought-stricken Bundelkhand region, voters asked the candidates to take a written test on