The Centre on Tueasday said it has sanctioned a relief package of Rs 1,540 crore for Karnataka, which declared drought in 27 districts due to deficit monsoon rainfall this year.
Till now, seven states –Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, UP and Andhra Pradesh –have declared drought in 200 districts. So far, six states have submitted their memorandum seeking central assistance.
The Centre also urged other drought-affected states like Bihar and Jharkhand to submit their memorandum urgently so that to provide relief to farmers.
“Barring Andhra Pradesh, six states have submitted their memorandum. We have sanctioned Rs 1,540 crore assistance to Karnataka,” Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh told reporters after the meeting with State Agriculture Commissioners and Principal Secretaries here.
A package of Rs 1,387 crore has been recommended for Chhattisgarh after assessing the situation in 25 drought declared districts in the state, he said, adding that the proposal is expected to get clearance from the high-level committee soon.