Govt working on uniform criteria for declaring drought

The Government is developing a uniform set of scientific criteria for declaring drought in any part of the country to overcome the problems arising out of divergent parameters used by different states.

At present there is no uniformity in the criteria for declaring drought and each state adopts different set of rules, taking into account the agro climatic conditions.

As a result, it often becomes difficult for authorities to assess the authenticity, among other things, of the claims by states for assistance in case of deficient rains.

"Efforts are underway to evolve a uniform criteria for declaring drought in any part of the country", Deputy Director General (National Resource Management), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), A K Singh said.