Centre approves Rs 526 cr for drought-hit areas

A high-powered panel, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, on Thursday approved central assistance of Rs 1,304 crore to Karnataka and Maharashtra, which faced drought last year.

Karnataka and Maharashtra had faced severe drought in 2012 due to poor southwest monsoon, the lifeline of the country’s agriculture. The two state governments had sought financial support from National Disaster Response Fund.

“The High Level Committee for central assistance to States affected by natural calamity on Thursday approved assistance of Rs 526.06 crore to Karnataka and Rs 778.09 crore to Maharashtra,” an official statement said. The HLC approved funds based on the recommendation of the Inter-Ministerial Group, headed by the Agriculture Secretary, it said.

Maximum funds has been given to bear the subsidy of farm inputs like seeds. Some funds has been set aside for improving water and fodder supply in these two states. Karnataka had declared drought in 142 taluks in 26 districts, while Maharashtra in 125 taluks in 16 districts.

IMG had sent two separate teams to assess the drought situation in these two states, it added. The other members of the high-level panel include Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission.