Drought a worry in poll-bound Bihar
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12/08/2010
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Times Of India (New Delhi)
New Delhi: Even as the capital bathed in heavy rains bringing relief from the baking sun, concerns peaked about the failed monsoon in eastern India, with the issue threatening to become a factor in poll-bound Bihar. Congress MP Jagdambika Pal this week told Lok Sabha that eastern UP, Bihar and Jharkhand were facing a serious threat to the kharif crop because of deficient rain. Raising the issue during zero hour, Pal, along with MPs Ratna Singh and Kamal Kishore, said the state should declare the districts in eastern UP as drought hit. The Samajwadi Party contingent was also on its feet raising the issue on Wednesday. Led by Mulayam Singh Yadav, they lamented that the UP government had earmarked Rs 500 crore more for installing statues while the dry spell in large parts of the state was going unattended. The RJD spoke this week about Bihar. The concerns from MPs in Parliament have only grown louder as there are fears that a failed monsoon may not strike the policy makers in Delhi which has seen decent rains so far besides the north and other parts of India which have been inundated by downpour. While the capital did witness heat and sun this week, the strong showers on Wednesday only heightened the contrast with the eastern region. Pal said,