New Delhi:
With at least six states staring at a possible drought, the special government panel - The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is meeting today to discuss and analyse the situation.
Sources say the EGoM is expected to impose taxes to make it difficult to export, to deal with the domestic shortage that could emerge with the rain deficit. India currently allows exports of rice, cotton, corn, wheat and sugar.
Also the emphasis is expected to be on drinking water. The EGoM will also consider a proposal by the Rural Development Ministry to provide safe drinking water to states affected by drought-like conditions. The ministry has proposed to provide Rs 15 crore, Rs 12 crore and Rs 11 crore to Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan, respectively, to help them ensure availability of drinking water in districts affected by drought.
The panel is also likely to decide on imports. Nearly 4.3 lakh tonnes of pulses is likely to be imported to meet the nation-wide deficit.
Major pulses and rice producing regions like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat are all facing a rain deficit.
Mr Pawar will also lead a team to drought-affected areas in four states Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan - during August 1-3, to assess the rain deficit and water scarcity situation.
"The meeting will be held with the Chief Ministers of the affected states and will review the rainfall deficiency and its impact on kharif crops, water and fodder availability," a senior Agriculture Ministry official said.
The Monsoons are 20 per cent below normal in the entire country as of now. In North West India, the deficit is 38 per cent, even though it's raining in Western UP, Himachal Pradesh, and Eastern Rajasthan. In central India the deficit is 18 per cent even though the situation is getting better in Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha region. In the Indian peninsular region, the monsoon is 21 per cent below normal. And in the east and northeast the deficit is 10 per cent.
(With agencies inputs)