Haryana has urged the Centre to give it a special package to deal with drought-like conditions in the State. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda disclosed on Wednesday that in a written communication to the Union Government the increased expenditure on electricity to irrigate the fields had also been highlighted.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary P.K. Chaudhery has constituted a Committee of Secretaries to keep a watch on the situation “arising out of deficient rainfall in the State”. The Committee, comprising administrative Secretaries of the Departments of Revenue, Cooperation, Irrigation, Agriculture, Power, Public Health, Food & Supplies, Rural Development and Animal Husbandry would meet weekly to take stock of the situation.

The empowered group of ministers (EGoM) on drought, chaired by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, today gave in-principle approval for a Rs 2,519-crore package to Maharashtra to tackle drought-like situation in the state.

The package is part of the total demand of Rs 4,919 crore the state had proposed and would address issues such as availability of drinking water, fodder and irrigation works.

JAIPUR: The state government has declared drought in Jodhpur, Nagaur, Barmer, Bikaner and Jaisalmer districts on Wednesday. The five districts have been worst-hit by deficit rain and will remain in the status of 'drought-affected' from August 1 to July 31 next year.

As per the emergency relief plans, collectors of all the above districts have been asked to do an early assessment of the total losses. To get maximum aid, chief minister Ashok Gehlot instructed the officials to mention everything in detail in the letters that will be presented to Centre. He also asked them to take the assessment exercise of losses seriously. To gauge the situation in the state, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar will visit Jaipur on August 3.

Subsidy on diesel, seeds to be hiked to help farmers

The Central government on Tuesday approved Rs 1,931 crore financial package to five drought-affected states, including Rs 224 crore for Karnataka. The package will be used primarily to ensure supply of drinking water in rain deficient states and improve watershed management for drought-proofing. In addition, subsidy on diesel and seeds will be increased to help farmers tackle the crisis and save standing crops. Import duty on oil mill cake has been waived to improve the feed scenario.