Situation worsening due to delayed monsoon: MP Chief Minister

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said the situation is "worsening" in his state due to delay in monsoon and sought relief of Rs 2,800 crore from the Centre for damage of winter crops.
Chouhan today met Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh to brief about the monsoon situation and make several demands including relief package and setting up of farm universities in the state.
Briefing media after the meeting, Chouhan said: "We are concerned about delayed monsoon. Monsoon normally hits state around June 12-13. Now the situation is worsening".
However, he said that the state government has prepared a contingency plan and the Centre has assured assistance.

The Union Agriculture Minister also said: "We are fully prepared to tackle drought like situation".
The Meteorological Department has forecast monsoon to be below normal at 93 per cent of the long period average this year. The country had overall rainfall deficit of 45 per cent till June 18.

Madhya Pradesh is a major producer of wheat and soybean.
Seeking relief package for damage of winter crops in the state, Chouhan said: "There was crop loss due to hailstorm during rabi season. The MP government has already given Rs 2,800 crore relief funds to growers. The previous government did not help. So, we have come to demand Rs 2,800 crore relief funds be released to the state".

He also sought setting up of a Centre of Excellence to promote wheat research in the state, establishing a veterinary college at Panna and one horticulture college under the new Bundelkhand Central Agriculture University at Chhatarpur in the state.
The Union Agriculture Minister assured the Chief Minister to consider all these demands.
In separate meeting, Fertiliser Minister Ananth Kumar and former Chief Minister of Karnataka, B S Yeddyurappa met Agriculture Minister and presented a memorandum on promoting agricultural growth in Karnataka.
The Centre assured to consider their demand of opening a central agricultural university in the state.