| Government announces Rs19b drought package |
NEW DELHI With the country facing rain deficit of 20 per cent so far, the federal government on Tuesday announced a relief package of about Rs19 billion to states facing drought-like situation and offered a diesel subsidy of 50 per cent to farmers for saving standing crops.
The decisions were approved by an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.
The subsidy on diesel would be shared equally by the federal government and the state governments, Pawar said while announcing the decisions taken by the EGoM.
Pawar said the EGoM approved Rs14.40 billion to Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat under integrated watershed management programme.
Another Rs4.53 billion would be given under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) to Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Haryana. The panel approved release of Rs380 million under NRDWP to Karnataka, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
The EGoM also decided to increase the subsidy on seeds of various crops. The panel also approved waiving import duty on oilmeal cake to increase feed supply.
Stating that 306 districts have received deficient rains and 94 districts got scanty rainfall out of 627 districts, he said sowing area is lower than the last year and there will be some setback in kharif crops.
Agencies
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