Jharkhand seeks Rs.3,000 crore for drought relief

RANCHI - The Jharkhand government has sought Rs.3,000-crore assistance from the centre to mitigate the effects of drought due to inadequate rains this year.

The government has also opened control rooms at the panchayat level to monitor the relief work and cancelled leave of all field-level officials.

A central team last week visited the state to assess the drought situation. According to official sources, the team found the situation “alarming” and was supportive of the state’s claim for higher assistance. Initially, it had sought Rs.1,647 crore from the centre.

“Earlier, 16 districts were declared drought-hit. Now all the 24 districts were declared drought affected, and this is the reason why we have sought more than Rs.3,000 crore central assistance,” a senior official told IANS.

Chief Secretary A.K. Singh told IANS he had instructed the deputy commissioners not to grant leave to the staff and officers involved in relief work in the districts till the situation improved.

“I will personally take stock of the situation at the ground level and oversee the relief work undertaken by the district administration,” added Singh.

About 10,000 kg of food grains have been sent to all the panchayts across the state for distribution among the needy if there is an emergency. The government is also distributing grains under the Annapurna and Antyodaya yojana.