Chandigarh, Aug 10 (IANS) The Haryana government Friday sought financial assistance of Rs.4,050 crore from the central government to compensate farmers in view of the drought-like conditions in the state.
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda told media here after a meeting with union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh.
Both the union ministers were here to review the drought conditions in Haryana and Punjab.
Hooda said the situation due to deficient rainfall was the worst in the last 10 years and no significant rainfall was expected in the coming days also.
“Haryana is worst affected as the state is deficit in rainfall to the extent of 70 percent and this has caused severe distress to the farmers in terms of less sowing as well as additional expenditure to save their crops,” Hooda said.
He said the Haryana government had provided extra electricity to the agriculture sector to the tune of 8,800 lakh units at an estimated cost of Rs.610 crore.
Hooda said the state government has demanded compensation for the enhanced cost of cultivation, unsown area and other support measures for the agriculture sector, amounting to Rs.1,100 crore.
Ramesh announced Rs.230 crore to Haryana for drinking water purposes and watershed management.
