By IANS,
Ranchi : The Jharkhand government will seek a relief package of about Rs.400 crore from the central government since all districts have been declared drought-hit, official sources said here Thursday.
“The state government will soon demand around Rs.400 crore from the central government as incentive for loss of crops and subsidy for agriculture. A team of state government officials or Governor K. Shankarnarayan himself will go to New Delhi and meet the concerned ministers,” an official said.
A Congress delegation headed by state party president Pradeep Balmuchu had met the governor Wednesday and demanded a special drought package.
BJP state president Raghubar Das also said that the state should announce a package so that relief work can be started soon.
This year, the arrival of the monsoon was delayed by two weeks in Jharkhand. So far, the state has received only 20 to 35 percent of its average rainfall for this time of the year, damaging paddy crops. Only 20 to 22 percent paddy sowing has taken place due to scanty rainfall.
The governor has announced free ration for poor people. He has directed officials to ensure that the distribution of food grains begins by the first week of the month at fair price shops of the state.