Inter-ministerial teams are visiting six States to assess the impact of drought in the summer monsoon season. State governments have requested drought relief assistance from the Centre to the tune of almost ₹17,000 crore for two crore hectares of affected land, according to Agriculture Ministry data. Out of its 36 districts, 26 districts have been affected, and the State government has requested ₹7,522 crore in central assistance. In Karnataka, 24 out of 30 districts have been declared drought-hit, with 37 lakh hectares affected. In Rajasthan, almost 35 lakh hectares have been affected, and the State has requested nearly ₹2,820 crore of central assistance.

Source: The Hindu December 21, 2018 17:03 UTC