The Centre has come up with a plan to counter the drought situation in the country. It has allowed 25,000 quintals of oilseeds, pulsed and cereals be given to farmers of Uttar Pradesh from the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna.
In Uttar Pradesh, paddy sowing is down to 40 per cent of what it was last year, and now the plan is to help farmers in the Rabi or the winter crop.
It will also supply seeds of pulses, maize etc to Jharkhand and Bihar.
There is also a 50 per cent subsidy on diesel to farmers, half of which the Centre will bear and the other half the state.
The Ministry of Power has extended more power to UP, Punjab, Haryana as requested by Agriculture Ministry.
Pawar said three states have sought relief worth over Rs 8,500 crore while the Centre has already released funds from the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF).
Without mentioning the amount of money released, he said the first instalment of the current year has been released for Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Manipur.
As many as 177 districts in the country are witnessing drought or drought-like situation. While Uttar Pradesh, which has declared 58 districts as drought affected, has sought Rs 7,789 crore, Jharkhand has demanded Rs 890 crore, where 24 districts are affected. Manipur has asked the Centre for an assistance of Rs 20 crore following all its nine districts being affected.
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