Question : DROUGHT ASSISTANCE

(a) the names of the States which have to face the situation of drought almost every year and the percentage of area which are drought prone in various parts of the country;

(b) whether the Government has declared some States and districts as drought affected areas during the current financial year;

(c) if so, the present status of the Working Group on drought;

(d) whether the Government has received proposals from various States including Andhra Pradesh for additional funds for drought relief works during the 12th Plan period; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a): As per report of the High Level Technical Committee headed by Prof. H.C. Hanumantha Rao, 74.59 million hectare area had been identified for implementation of Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), currently subsumed under Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP). Statewise details are at Annexure-I.

(b): Declaration of drought is made by the respective State Governments taking into account various factors like rainfall deficit, crop sowing, moisture adequacy index etc.

(c): At present, there is no Working Group on drought.

(d) & (e): State Government is empowered to undertake necessary relief measures in the wake of natural calamities including drought from funds readily available under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Additional financial assistance over and above SDRF is provided from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) as per established procedure and extant norms upon receipt of the memorandum from the State Government.

Details of additional financial assistance approved by Government of India from NDRF during 12th Five Year Plan period for drought relief to States including Andhra Pradesh are at Annexure-II.