Janamat Party demands to declare Terai Madhesh as dry zone

KATHMANDU, Aug 5: The Janamat Party has submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' with the demand to declare Madhesh as "dry zone" and provide relief to the province.

The memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister's residence under the leadership of the Janamat Party's Deputy Chairman and the former Minister Abdul Khan this morning.

Prime Minister Prachanda mentioned that he was aware of the drinking water problem in Terai Madhesh and stated that the government is doing its homework on the alternative for drinking water and irrigation in Madhesh.

In the memorandum, the following demands were listed:

•    Madhesh Province should be declared a dry area and relief should be provided

•    Drinking water should be provided to the people of the dry areas including Birgunj without delay

•    Proper compensation should be provided for the dry crops

•    Electricity used for irrigation should be free of charge

•    Free treatment should be provided to people sick due to lack of water

•    Plans should be made for the sustainable control of natural disasters including drought and made public

The Janamat Party had also demonstrated a protest in Kathmandu yesterday demanding to declare Terai Madhesh as a dry area.