Centre to announce relief package for rain-hit MP, Maha

The Centre is expected to announce on March 19 a package for Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra where extensive damage has been caused to crops by the unseasonal rain and hailstorm recently.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today talked to Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar over the issue, sources said.
Pawar told Singh that teams have been sent to the affected areas to assess the damage and they would submit reports by March 16, the sources said.
On the basis of their report, a relief package would be announced on March 19, the Agriculture Minister told Singh.
The quantum of the package would be based on the assessment made by the teams.

The rain and hailstorm have destroyed large tracts of crops in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have written to the Centre, seeking relief packages.
Even though the Election Model Code of Conduct is in place, officials said the announcement of relief package would not be affected by it.