A day after Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan carried out an inspection in Jhansi taking administrative action against the erring officers, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said on Sunday that Bundelkhand was reeling under a severe water crisis and Government has not take any corrective step.

“It is unfortunate to know that Bundelkhand is facing acute power and water shortage. People have to walk sever kilometers to fetch a bucket of water. The crisis is so acute that exodus of people has started,” BJP spokesman Dr Manoj Mishra said during his daily press briefing here on Sunday.

He said that if state government does not take a corrective step people might be forced to end their lives. “The whole of Bundelkhand is craving for water. The fields are parched. The tube wells are not working. The hand pumps are insufficient and wherever they are these are not working up to the optimum level. The state government should take immediate steps to provide water for the needy otherwise it would be too late,” he said.

Dr Mishra said in 2013-14 the central government had sanctioned Rs 20 crore for water conservation. But because of the pathy of the state government the money could not be used and almost Rs 18 crore was surrendered.

“This should not happen now. Government should chart out clear strategy to store water in this rugged region,” he said. “The State Government should seek Cente’s help and work as per the guidelines of the central government to provide relief to the people,” he said.

Chiding the state government over its claim of possible Rs 55,000 crore investment in Uttars Pradesh Dr Mishra said that this was a farce claim. “The Government had given big ads in newspapers and interestingly the companies it had mentioned who are willing to invest in UP are actually working in the state,” he said.