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Drought situation worse than 1987's: Ajit

Despite revival of monsoon, the situation in several parts of the country was worse than the drought of 1987, Union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh said on Saturday.

The drought situation is particularly severe in states like Rajasthan, parts of West Bengal, and a few others, Singh told reporters on the sidelines of the 43rd annual seminar of Maharashtra State Grape Growers' Association in Pune.

The situation is not very bad in Maharashtra as 16 of the 35 districts in the state have received rains, he said.

In Bihar, half of the state is reeling under the impact of flood while half of it is facing drought situation, Singh said.

The national perception on construction of dams should be changed, Singh said adding unless dams were constructed the flowing waters will go waste.

"Simply opposing dam construction on environmental ground will not augur well," he added.

Water should be regarded as a national resource while drafting the water policy and research and development should be done on the selection of crops, which grow in scanty rainfall, he said.

Earlier, addressing the seminar the minister called for revamping of cooperative laws.

The multi-layered interest regime in cooperative sector should go as it was affecting farmers, he added.

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Monsoons, drought and India
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