Centre’s responsibility to warn states on drought: SC

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The Centre faced tough questions on its handling of drought-like situation in the country, with the Supreme Court asking whether it was not its responsibility to warn the states that such a scenario was likely to prevail in the near future. It also chided Gujarat for not filing an affidavit on the matter, saying “just because you’re Gujarat doesn’t mean you can do whatever you like”. “It is the responsibility of the Centre to inform and warn that these (drought-affected) states will receive less rainfall. If you are told that 96% is crop sown in a particular area of the state but you receive information of scanty rain, don’t just tell them that everything is right and think there is possibility of the Centre telling states about a possible drought,” a Bench headed by Justice MB Lokur said.

The remark by the Bench submitted that 256 districts in 10 states were declared as drought-affected. He clarified that the declaration of a particular area as drought-affected did not mean that it was affecting the entire population of that area as all are not farmers or engaged in agriculture-related occupation. The law officer said the total population in such areas may be 33 crore but “the actual number of people affected by drought is likely to be less than what is reflected in gross population figures of such drought-affected districts”. The Apex Court said that the Centre should adopt modern technology to assess drought situation in states instead of following “eye estimation” (cursory survey of farms) method, which is not even mentioned in Manual for Drought Management. The court directed the Centre to apprise it how many households in drought-hit areas got 150 days employment under MNREGA and asked it to submit a compilation of advisories on drought.

News Source : Millennium post - 21 April 2016