Bihar Declares 26 of 38 Districts Drought-Hit

The Bihar Government on Monday declared 26 out of 38 districts in the state as drought-hit following deficient rainfall, and asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to sanction a special package to tackle the crisis. The state cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, took a decision to this effect at a special meeting. After a thorough and intensive review of the situation in the state and reports received from district collectors, the cabinet declared 26 districts as "natural calamity-hit", Kumar said after the meeting. Kumar appealed to the Prime Minister to immediately send a team of Central ministers for an assessment of the situation and asked for a special financial package to the state.

On the opposition's demand for declaring the entire state drought-hit, the chief minister said the Cabinet discussed the matter and decided to include some more districts after a thorough review of the situation. The state government has declared Patna, Nalanda, Gaya, Buxar, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Kaimur, Siwan, Arwal, Nawada, Munger, Aurangabad, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Bhagalpur, Banka, Saran, Jehanabad, Muzaffapur, Sitamarhi, Begusarai, Madhepura, Kishanganj, Katihar and Vaishali as "calamity-hit". Bihar, between June 1 and August 6, received just 331.7 mm of rain against the normal 568.5 mm, a deficiency of 42 per cent. This resulted in 58 per cent decline in paddy transplantation which was targetted at 87,722,41 acres. Paddy could be planted in only 38,22,967 acres this year, official sources said. Pulse, another major crop in the state, could be planted in just 1,41,156 acres of land against a target of 3,08,881 acres and oilseeds in 14,287 acres against a target of 48,421 acres, the sources said. Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister S K Modi and Chief Secretary Anup Mukherjee were also present in the meeting.