Still hungry for rice, Naidu adds water to his wishlist

	Jogi wants PM to intervene in paddy procurement
NEW DELHI: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi on Friday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Vajpayee in arranging procurement of paddy from farmers at the MSP and also called for relief measures given the drought in the state. In a memorandum submitted to Vajpayee at his residence, Jogi said if procurement by the Food Corporation of India was not possible then the Centre should reimburse Chhattisgarh the entire cost involved in procurement such as transportation and godowns. When Union Food Minister Sharad Yadav pointed out that there was no network for procurement of paddy by the FCI in Chhattisgarh, Jogi suggested that the state government be made the Centre’s agent to procure paddy from farmers in the state. Vajpayee, on his part, said he would see what he could do in the matter. (ENS) Story continues below this ad

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu appears to have an unsatiable appetite — for rice. His state was allotted around 16.5 lakh tonnes last year, and 15 lakh tonnes this year. When Naidu met the PM today, he demanded another 25 lakh tonnes. He also met Dy PM L.K. Advani and Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh to tell them about the drought in AP.

Besides, Naidu passionately advocated the long-forgotten idea of linking the Ganga with the Cauvery to mitigate problems of uneven rainfall distribution in the country. Late K.L.Rao had mooted the idea that was then considered technically unfeasible.

‘‘This can become another great achievement for the NDA Government,’’ he said. The Union Water Resources Ministry is making a presentation at the PMO tomorrow at which Naidu would be present.