More than 10 states in India have been hit by drought this year, facing a crippling water shortage. (Reuters photo)
Highlights
- Silence from these states adds to the distress of vulnerable: Top court
- Court added that states like Haryana and Bihar are still in 'denial mode'
- Court asked the Centre to play a more pro-active role to counter drought
The Supreme Court has come down heavily on states crippled by a devastating drought like Haryana, Bihar and Gujarat, terming their approach as an "ostrich-like attitude".
In its order on a public interest litigation or PIL related to declaration of drought in more than 10 states, the Supreme Court order said, "An ostrich-like attitude is a pity, particularly since the persons affected by a possible drought-like situation usually belong to the most vulnerable sections of society."
Quoting freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak, the judgement says, "The problem is not lack of resources or capability, but the lack of will" - something that was amply demonstrated in the PIL hearing with "the States of Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana hesitant to even acknowledge, let alone address, a possible drought-like situation or a drought by not disclosing full facts about the prevailing conditions in these states."
The court also said that "the sound of silence coming from these States subjects the vulnerable to further distress, adding that though Gujarat was late in declaring drought, Haryana and Bihar are still in denial mode".
The Supreme Court has asked the Central government to play a more proactive role to counter the drought.
"If a State Government maintains an ostrich-like attitude, a disaster requires a far more proactive and nuanced response from the Union of India," it added.
The Supreme Court has now directed these state governments to meet with the Union Agriculture Ministry within a week to review their measures.
The court has also directed the Centre to set up a disaster mitigation fund, a disaster relief force and has asked for the drought manual to be revised so that drought declaration is done within a time limit.
More than 30 crore people have been affected by this year's severe drought across India, government data says. The met department however has forecast better than average rains this year, breaking a string of two straight years of drought.