Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government
on Thursday decided to declare all the 12 districts as drought
affected and send a recommendation to the Centre for
compensation under drought relief measures.
This was decided at a meeting of the state cabinet
presided over by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal here.
According to an official release, the meeting observed
that the state has been experiencing deficient rainfall since
the October 2008 to July 2009.
The report based upon a survey ordered in February 2009
have been received from Deputy Commissioners, reporting loss
of crop ranging upto 96 per cent in the entire state, an
official release said.
The state has so far received a sum of Rs 21.22 crore
only as part payment of first installment of Rs 42 crore of
the calamity relief fund.
A sum of Rs 7.40 crore out of this money was spend upto
July 2009 over subsidy on transportation of water through
tankers to areas hit by water scarcity, it added.
In view of gravity of prolonged drought conditions in the
state, the cabinet decided to sanction Rs 7 crore to meet the
contingency. It also decided to remit the land revenue of
farmers for rabi and kharif crops.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, July 30, 2009, 21:07