Question : DROUGHT ASSESSMENT

(a) whether the Government has recently constituted an Inter-Ministerial Team (IMT) to assess the drought situation in various States in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof including the loss suffered by these States;

(c) whether the IMT has submitted its report to the Government;

(d) if so, the details of the recommendations made by the Team; and

(e) the details of the assistance sought by these States and actually released by the Government to drought affected States during each of the last three years and current year, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ( SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA )

(a) & (b): Pursuant to receipt of drought relief memorandum from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, Government has constituted three Inter Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to visit these States for assessing drought situation during Kharif -2014 and recommending additional central assistance from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). These IMCTs have already visited these States and assessed the situation. In their memoranda, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka have sought central assistance of Rs.4829.25 crore, Rs.4819.49 crore and Rs.779.20 crore respectively to mitigate drought situation.

(c) & (d): On receipt of requisite information from the State Government; IMCT that visited Uttar Pradesh has submitted its report recommending central assistance from NDRF towards agricultural input subsidy, fish farming and drinking water sectors.

(e): State-wise details of assistance demanded and assistance approved by the Government of India from NDRF for drought relief during last three years and current year is at Annexure-A.