HEARD of Plachimada? Over the last two-and-a-half years, people in this Kerala village have been agitating to get a neighbouring Coke plant shut down. According to them, Coke's water mining has parched the lands of over 2,000 people.

Shillong, March 22: A CAG report has rapped the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited for not initiating any steps to protect the Umiam reservoir which feeds five downstream hydropower plants of the corporation.

The reservoir covers an area of 10 square km and serves as a recreational spot for tourists with amenities for boating and angling.

In addition, the reservoir supplies drinking water

Water Resources and Higher Education Minister Anup Mishra has said that 11 lakh additional area has been brought under irrigation during last four and a half years in the state.

Problems of the drought-affected people in Madhya Pradesh remain as before. Due to scanty rainfall in Gwalior-Chambal division as also in Bundelkhand, the irrigation was not adequate and hence a good harvest is unlikely. On Monday the question of crippling drought situation in Gwalior-Chambal division figured in the assembly. The Opposition alleged that the state government had been a failure in solving the problems of the drought-affected people and walked out from the House. They charged the govt with making big promises to the suffering people but not fulfilling those promises. Instead, to divert the attention of the people, the state government was making excuses and blaming the Central government for the ills. The government was being partial in doling out relief amount to some selected people, the members charged. The government's attention was drawn towards the drying of crops in hundreds of villages under Bhander canal system, Rajghat project in Bhind district. Water Resources Minister clarified that the Rajghat Canal Project is under Uttar Pradesh. As the dam is in MP, so our state has put pressure on the UP government to give authority for its maintenance. Soon a high-level meeting on this issue is going to be held. The opposition should cooperate with the state government in the interest of the state. Indeed, the farmers facing hardships need relief and other government help. They have nothing to do with the politics being played inside or outside the Assembly. Even they are facing the problem of drinking water. They are already facing the problem of their livelihood but their future is also dark. Keeping aside petty political interests, the parties need to come out with ways to help the farmers.

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