Sonia Gandhi asks Rae Bareli DM to resolve water shortage issue

Rae Bareli, May 9: Taking serious note of shortage of water in her constituency, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has asked the district magistrate to prepare a plan for resolving the issue.

In view of serious shortage of potable and irrigation water, all efforts should be made like setting up new hand pumps and re-boring of the old ones on priority, she said in a letter sent to the district magistrate on April 20.

"I have been told that the farmers, specially of Saraini, Shivgarh and Uchahar area are facing immense problems because of shortage of water in the canals," the local MP said. "In view of the above, my request is to prepare a work plan to observe the present fiscal as 'year of water'.... Funds for the same be made available through all resources including my own MPLAD," the Congress president said.

"Our effort should be to ensure that all resources are focused on this... From my side too all efforts will be made at the state and central government level", she said in the letter dated April 20 and released by district Congress spokesperson Vinay Dwivedi on Sunday.

Stressing that the areas facing problem of fluoride in water be included in this plan, she said, adding inputs of all representatives be invited in the next meeting of district vigilance and monitoring committee for positive discussion.

The Congress president also said her office will continuously remain in touch with the DM in this regard.

PTI