Centre despatches team to K'taka to assess drought situation

The Centre has sent a central team to drought-hit Karnataka for assessing damage to kharif crops and is closely monitoring the deficit rainfall situation in Maharashtra, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said.
"The Karnataka government has declared drought in 27 districts out of 30. We have sent a central team to the state to assess the situation," Singh said in a statement.
Singh today held a review meeting with officials of the ministries concerned, including the Met Department, to assess the impact of deficit rains on kharif crops in various states, particularly the southern peninsula and central India.
The south-west monsoon has revived in Karnataka and Maharashtra, which are facing acute rainfall deficit and lower water level in reservoirs.

The weather office projected that there would be good rains in the southern peninsula and central India in the next 10-12 days.
Karnataka, which has received deficient rains in the ongoing kharif season, has demanded a central assistance of Rs 3,050.72 crore, he added.

The state government has been asked to utilise funds provided under the State Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to provide immediate relief to farmers in drought-hit areas.
"However, the central assistance will be released from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) based on the inputs from the central team," the minister added.
In the case of Maharashtra, Singh said his ministry is is in touch with the state government and is keeping a close watch on the situation in Marathwada and central Maharashtra.

"I assure that my ministry is equipped to deal with the possibility of drought in view of deficit rains. We were able to handle a similar situation last year. Our readiness along with support of the state governments will help reduce the impact of deficit rains," the minister said.
As per the official data, total area sown under kharif crops has reached 998.67 lakh hectares till September 4 of this kharif season compared with 979.40 lakh hectares in the year-ago period.