Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 09: A seven-member official team from the Centre arrived here today to assess the drought situation in the state. The team, led by S K Ojha, joint secretary, agriculture and co-operation, will visit Kottayam, Idukki, Palakkad and Eernakulam districts in the next four days. The officials would also hold discussion with revenue minister K M Mani and chief secretary Chandrasekharan Nair, before drawing up a report to be submitted to the Centre, official sources said. Kerala had sought drought relief of Rs 1,035 crore.
Other officials in the team are Jaswinder Singh, assistant director, department of expenditure,Abhiram Choudhury, director (SP), planning commission, Dr G C Das, assistant commissioner, department of animal husbandry, K Manoharan, director in charge, department of tobacco development, R M Deshpande, deputy advisor,department of drinking water and K Vivekanandan, under secretary, department of rural development.

The team was received at the airport by district collector, E Ayyappan.
Bureau Report