Chennai, May 11: The Centre was aware of the impact of drought in Tamil Nadu and would undertake a fresh assessment if the state government sent a memorandum for additional funds, Union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh said today. "Tamil Nadu is free to send a memorandum and the Centre will despatch a team to the state for a further assessment of the drought", he told a press conference here, after speaking at a seminar on agriculture, organised by Pattali Farmers Association, the farmers wing of the PMK. Pointing out that the Centre had released Rs 322.03 crore as drought relief under the 'calamity relief fund', he said certain norms had to be followed and not recommendations alone. Tamil Nadu had sought Rs 5,000 crore as drought relief. To a question on linking of rivers in view of the disputes arising between states over sharing of river waters, he said the Centre had set up a task force to study the feasibility of linking rivers. The Centre was keen to find a solution. Referring to a suggestion on levying tax on farmers, the minister said the kind of infrastructure available would not make it feasible to determine the rate of tax.

On the May 28 meeting of agriculture ministers, Singh said a discussion on the drought situation and steps to counter it would be high on the agenda. Sowing of alternative crops and the meteorological departments forecast that this year the country would receive 96 per cent of its normal rainfall would also be subjects for discussion.

Singh said it was not the quantum of rainfall that really mattered, but the area in which the rain fell.

Bureau Report