International BusinessBihar to seek Rs 10,500 cr central assistance for drought
After declaring 26 districts as natural calamity-hit following insufficient rains in the state, the Bihar government today said it would sought a Rs 10,500-crore Central package to meet the situation.
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"Our demand for a central package will exceed Rs 10,500 crore to tide over the crisis. Final touches are being given to the draft for the memorandum in consultation with experts. It is expected to be ready by late evening," state Disaster Management"s Principal Secretary Vyasji said.
The memorandum was likely to be submitted to the Centre within a day or two, he said.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had yesterday declared 26 of the 38 districts as natural calamity-hit and urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to immediately rush a team of union ministers to assess the drought and ensure early release of funds.
According to state government estimate, the drought has affected 1.26 crore families.
The chief minister has issued instructions to the authorities to take steps to ensure that no starvation death took place anywhere in the state.
The districts declared drought-hit were Patna, Nalanda, Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, Banka, Nawada, Aurangabad, Munger, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Bhagalpur, Saran, Siwan, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Begusarai, Madhepura, Kishanganj, Katihar and Vaishali.
A sum of Rs 100 crore had already been released from the state contingency fund to meet the crisis.
The state planned to provide gratuitous relief, cash dole, create additional irrigation facilities, set up cattle camps, arrange supplementary nutrition and safe drinking water in the affected districts.
The chief minister said the state government had allotted Rs 7.50 crore to the health department and mobile medical units sent to the drought-affected areas.