Bihar to seek Rs 23000 crore from Centre to combat drought

The state will ask for a package of Rs 23,000 crore from the Centre to meet the crisis arising out of the prevailing drought in Bihar, said chief minister Nitish Kumar. He added that a memorandum would be submitted to the Centre in this regard on Friday.

Nitish further stated that the state would also seek an additional allocation of Rs 38,000 kilolitre of kerosene every month and an additional allocation of 300 MW power per day. He added that if rainfall continues to be dismal, the remaining 12 districts of the state would also be declared drought hit like the other 26.

Addressing the people of the state through Akashvani, Nitish said diesel subsidy will also be allowed for Rabi plantation and shops for cheap breads will be opened, too.

Pointing out that another memorandum to be submitted to the Centre by all parties will be finalized soon, the CM said two senior ministers — Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Nand Kishore Yadav — would meet the leaders of other parties to finalize the draft. link