Bihar govt 'insensitive' to drought situation: Lalu

Patna, Aug 20 (UNI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today alleged that Bihar government was 'insensitive' towards drought affected people.

He alleged that the state government had not taken any initiative or requested the Centre to send a team for assessment of the situation.

Addresssing a function here after flagging off the Kosi Express, Mr Prasad expressed concern over the grim situation of drought and said the farmers had suffered a heavy loss due to it.

''In the absence of any formal request from the state government, it would be difficult for the Centre to send a team to assess the damage,'' he said.

He further added the ''deep slumber'' of the Bihar government on the issue was ''unfortunate and painful''.

''During the Nitish Kumar regime, the situation of Indian Railway was 'grim' and an expert committee had painted a gloomy picture of the situation thereby recommending immediate steps to rectify it,'' he observed.

Mr Prasad said he had been able to turn the Indian Railway into a profit making undertaking without increasing passenger fare and freight charges.

Taking potshot on NDA government's claim that no one would be required to migrate to other parts of the country in search of livelihood, the Railway Minister said there had been no improvement in the situation.

Mr Prasad also accused the state government of not providing proper security to passengers and said that controversial IPS officer Ajay Verma had been posted as DIG (Rail) despite an arrest warrant issued against him.

''State government should appoint another officer and immediately arrest the 'corrupt' DIG,'' he said.

All important railway stations, including Patna Junction, would be made world class station and security arrangements would be tightened to foil any disruptive activities of anti-socials, he said.

Arrangements would be made to transport agro-products to other parts of the country, which would enable the farmers to improve their economic condition, he informed.

The minister informed a separate freight corridor would be constructed to ensure smooth flow of goods and the project would be launched by the Prime Minister in Mumbai.

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