GUIYANG - Vice Premier Hui Liangyu urged relevant authorities to step up efforts in combating drought and ensuring people's livelihoods in the southwestern regions of the country.

Hui made the remarks at an anti-drought meeting on Sunday in Guiyang, capital city of Guizhou Province.

A severe and persistent drought, which started in June, has left more than 12.6 million people short of drinking water and parched huge tracts of farmland in the country's southwestern regions.

The most pressing task is to ensure drinking water for residents in the drought-hit regions, Hui said, adding that efforts should also be taken to ensure agricultural production and prevent forest fire in these regions.

He warned that battling drought in the southwest will become more challenging with the rainy season being over.

Hui also urged local authorities and relevant agencies to increase anti-drought inputs, accelerate the construction of major irrigation projects and encourage technology popularity to improve the efficiency of water use.