The union government announced a financial assistance of 1900 crore
under various schemes for the rain deficient states. It also extended a
diesel subsidy of fifty percent to farmers to save the standing crops
through groundwater irrigation which would be shared between the centre
and the states.
The decisions were taken at the meeting of the Empowered Group of
Ministers (EGoM). The meeting was chaired by Agriculture Minsiter,
Sharad Pawar.
Amongst the states facing the problems are Parts of Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana. The overall kharif
sowing is lower by 56.03 lakh hectares compared to the normal area, with
a shortfall in the cultivation of rice, coarse cereals and pulses
largely in Karnataka, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Apart from this, an interim assistance of Rs. Thirty eight crore for
supply of drinking water would be given to Karnataka, Maharashtra and
Rajasthan.
