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Some drought-hit states failed to access CRF: Centre

The government on Monday said that some drought-hit states including Orissa have failed to access Calamity Relief Fund so far this year due to non-submission of earlier utilisation details even as total cash demand for drought mitigation measures mounted to about Rs 50 billion.

Orissa is entitled to withdraw Rs 453 million from the central share of CRF this year but the state has not yet used the fund, first installment of which fell due in May, special secretary in Union Agriculture Ministry Hemendra Kumar told reporters in New Delhi.

Similarly, Bihar, which is facing floods, is yet to furnish details of previous withdrawals in order to be able to utilise this year's share of Rs 540 million, he said, adding 15 states are getting assistance to the tune of Rs 2 billion under CRF this year.

Kumar said the second installment of CRF, normally due only in November, would be released in advance to the drought-affected states if they so require. "As per preliminary estimates, states have demanded some Rs 50 billion to tide over the crisis. Their detailed reports are awaited", he said.

He said monsoon would continue to be "subdued" for the next two-three days in central and north western India and the cumulative rainfall from June 1 to July 24 for the country as a whole was 24 per cent below normal.

Drought conditions have damaged rain-fed crops including coarse cereals, oilseeds and pulses, while sowing of rice has been hit to a lesser extent so far due to available irrigation support, he said.

Kumar said while bajra cultivation in Rajasthan and Haryana has suffered, maize sowing is also affected in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Delayed rains have somewhat helped some areas in Madhya Pradesh, which are covered under soyabean.

All the 12 affected states have been asked to work out contingency plans to deal with the situation and advised to undertake alternative crops too, he said.

The Centre has taken stock of the availability of seeds of different varieties and National Seeds Corporation has been made the nodal agency to assist the state governments and farmers in this regard.

Kumar said the affected states are in the process of assessing damage to crops and other losses and would be sending their detailed requirements soon.

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