Centre sanctions over Rs. 5,000 crores as drought aid to Maharashtra, MP

The Centre has sanctioned over Rs 5,000 crores for drought-hit Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Rs.3049 crores have been alloted for the drought affected regions of Maharashtra and around Rs. 2000 crores for Madhya Pradesh.

This decision was taken at a high-level Committee meeting held in the national capital under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, attended by Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, vice-chairman of NITI Aayog and other senior officials of concerned ministers.

The committee examined the proposals on the basis of report of the Central Teams which visited the drought-affected parts of the state and approved the assistance from the National Disaster Relief Fund.

Welcoming the announcement, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a series of tweets acknowledged the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh.

"Grateful to Government of India and Hon'ble @BJPRajnathSingh ji for approving Rs.3049 crore assistance towards Maharashtra drought relief. It is biggest ever relief given by Central Govt to Maharashtra," Chief Minister Fadnavis tweeted.

"Thank You Hon @narendramodi ji for the continuous care &support for farmers. Spoke to Hon @BJPRajnathSingh ji personally,expressed my gratitude&sincere thanks. GoI has supported very strongly in this hour of distress," he added.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister also said that there can't be more befitting reply to those who have been doing only politics on drought instead of uniting for farmers in time of distress.

More than 34 percent if Maharashtra has been declared drought-hit. Out of the state's 43,000 villages, 14,708 are in the grip of drought.