Bihar demands Central assistance to tackle drought

Nitish Kumar would be meeting the Prime Minister on Friday over the issue

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday demanded Central assistance of Rs 12,000 crore to tide over the drought situation in 33 of the total 38 districts of the state.

Kumar, who is here on a two-day visit, made the demand during his meeting with Finance Minister P Chidambaram. He also demanded that a central team visit Bihar to assess the situation.

The Bihar Chief Minister would be meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow over the issue. Bihar government had yesterday declared 33 of the total 38 districts in the state as drought affected.

Kumar said his government is keeping a watch on the situation and if required, the remaining five districts will also be declared drought-affected.

He maintained that Monsoon has been 37% deficient and the sowed crops in the state are drying.

"We have informed them about our needs. We would want their (Centre) teams to visit Bihar... We are giving them a paper in this regard. Today, I will meet the Agriculture Minister and tomorrow the Prime Minister on this issue," he said when asked what transpired during his meeting with Chidambaram.

Asked about the amount of central assistance the state requires, Kumar said the amount required as per the assessment made now is Rs 12,000 crore but "it may increase later when the central team visits us."

"But now whatever broad assessment we have done, that we will give to to the Agriculture Minister today and to the Prime Minister tomorrow. Today I have not given any paper to Chidambaram, I just apprised him of the situation," he said.

Kumar will tomorrow deliver a lecture at an annual programme of the National Commission for Minorities.