Patna: Describing the drought situation in
Bihar as "bad", a central team today said it would submit a
report on it to the Union Agriculture Ministry in a day or two
suggesting measures and financial assistance to be provided to
the state.
"The situation is indeed bad because of poor monsoon",
the 11-member team which ended its three-day visit to Bihar,
said during a meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,
official sources said.
The team headed by Joint Secretary of Union Agriculture
Ministry R K Tiwari had surveyed 12 of the 26 drought-hit
districts.
Kumar had asked the team to submit a fact-based report
to the Centre about the prevailing situation and apprise it of
the state's preparedness to tackle the problem, the sources
said.
The steps taken by the state government included
providing diesel and seed subsidy to farmers, drinking water
to far-flung areas of Rohtas and Kaimur districts in water
tankers and food and fodder distribution.
Kumar during his recent meeting with Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh had demanded a central package of Rs 23,000
crore to tackle the situation arising out of the calamity.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, August 22, 2009, 21:53