Jaipur: The Rajasthan government has arranged a special package of Rs 9,321 crore to provide relief in drought-affected areas of the state, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said on Friday (November 13), after 87 tehsils across 15 districts were declared drought-affected following monsoon rainfall about 20 per cent below the state's average, IANS reported.

Source: IANS via Fresh Headline

Of the 87 tehsils, 73 have been classified as severely drought-affected and 14 as moderately affected. The 15 districts are Barmer, Balotra, Banswara, Beawar, Bikaner, Churu, Dungarpur, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Pali, Phalodi, Rajsamand and Sirohi. The announcement is a major new development following the state's earlier declaration in late October, when 80 tehsils across 14 districts were first declared drought-hit for the Kharif season.

Chairing a review meeting of the Disaster Management, Relief and Civil Defence Department at the Chief Minister's Office, Sharma directed officials to closely monitor relief and disaster management operations and ensure the availability of drinking water, irrigation facilities and fodder for farmers, livestock owners and the general public, according to IANS. He said fodder depots should be operated systematically in districts that received below-normal rainfall, and that drinking water and fodder for livestock should be ensured through gaushalas (cow shelters).

The Chief Minister directed the Rural Development Department to undertake employment and livelihood activities in the affected areas through the VB-G RAM G, Rajeevika and housing schemes. He also instructed officials to prepare assessment reports based on girdawari (crop damage assessment) of Kharif crops in the affected districts and take steps to provide relief to farmers who suffered crop losses. The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) was directed to ensure adequate drinking water supplies under contingency plans, while the Electricity Department was told to prioritise electricity connections for tube wells and arrange transport of drinking water wherever required.

Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Akhil Arora, Additional Chief Secretary (Disaster Management, Relief and Civil Defence) Bhaskar A. Sawant and senior officials from the departments of Public Health Engineering, Revenue, Animal Husbandry, Gaupalan, Agriculture and Horticulture, Cooperation, Finance, Employment Guarantee Scheme and Water Resources attended the meeting, IANS reported.