Patna, August 06: With 28 of the 38 districts in Bihar declared drought-hit by state government, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today assured the Centre’s assistance in all possible ways to deal the “serious” situation.
“We will be extending all-possible help to the state of Bihar… the situation is quite serious here,” Pawar told reporters at the Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport here on arrival from New Delhi.
The Bihar government has decided to seek a special financial package of Rs 15,000 crore from the Centre to tackle the drought.
Sources in the state’s disaster management department said a report, which was being given final touches, seeking the assistance would be placed before the Centre.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is expected to be in New Delhi tomorrow to press for the package under provisions of the National Calamity Contingency Fund, they said.
–Agencies