Even as sowing resumed in several parts of the country that received rain in the past four days, the overall deficiency in the monsoon precipitation has risen from 26 per cent last week to over 30 per cent.
However, only six states have so far officially declared certain areas as drought-hit and informed the Centre. Eight states have sought financial assistance amounting to over Rs 16,374 crore from the National Contingency Calamity Relief Fund. This is in addition to over Rs 1,200 crore released by the Centre as the first two installments of the Calamity Relief Fund.
Apart from the overall paucity of precipitation, the water level in the country