UP, Raj, Haryana worst hit by rains, seek Rs 10,100 cr relief

Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana were the worst hit states in the recent unseasonal rains and hailstorm and have sought over Rs 10,100 crore as relief from the Centre for the affected farmers, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the rains and hailstorm altogether affected 94 lakh hectares of crop area across 14 states over the last three months.
Giving state-wise details in reply to a question, he said 29.64 lakh hectares of crop area was affected in Uttar Pradesh.
In Haryana, 22.24 lakh hectares of crop area was affected while in Rajasthan it stood at 16.89 lakh hectares.

Other affected states are Maharashtra (9.89 lakh hectares), Madhya Pradesh (5.70), Punjab (2.94), Bihar (1.86), Gujarat (1.75), Jammu & Kashmir (1.33), Himachal Pradesh (0.67), West Bengal (0.49), Uttarakhand (0.39), Telangana and Kerala (0.01 each).
"Memoranda have been received from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana demanding Rs 744.48 crore, Rs 8,252 crore and Rs 1,135.91 crore from NDRF (National Disaster Response Fund), respectively," Singh said during Question Hour.

The minister said several state governments have been asked to take relief measures and utilise the money available under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
For additional financial assistance, the states can seek money from the National Disaster Response Fund.

Financial assistance under SDRF/NDRF in the wake of natural calamities was by way of relief and not for compensation of losses suffered, he noted.
Besides, Singh said a new crop insurance policy was also on the anvil for this fiscal.