Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said his Government was committed towards rapid development of Bundelkhand for which it has sanctioned an additional Rs. 200 crore to solve the drinking water problem in the backward region.
“I want to reiterate our commitment to develop this area rapidly. The UPA Government is concerned over the fact that the area is reeling under severe drought since the last few years,” he said.
The Prime Minister addressed a function after dedicating to the nation Bina Refinery located in Bundelkhand, a region spread over Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
“I also know that in the past this area was not given due attention. Looking at all these situations, we sanctioned a Rs. 7,266-crore financial package for Bundelkhand in 2009.”
Under the package, the share of Madhya Pradesh was Rs. 3,760 crore. In 2009-10 and 2010-11, the Centre had given Rs. 1,000 crore to the state as part of the package, he said.
The package has focused on conserving land and water so that agriculture and animal husbandry related works get a fillip, Singh said.
To overcome the shortage of drinking water in the region, which comprises over a dozen districts, the Centre only yesterday sanctioned an additional Rs. 200 crore, the Prime Minister said.
Both the Centre and the State have to make efforts to ensure that the Bundelkhand package is successfully implemented, Dr. Singh said.
