Bihar declares 26 of 38 districts `calamity hit`

Patna, Aug 10 (PTI) The Bihar Government Monday
declared 26 out of 38 districts in the eastern state as
"natural calamity-hit" following deficient rainfall, and asked
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to sanction a special package to
tackle the crisis.

The state cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar, took a decision to this effect at a special
meeting here.

After a thorough and intensive review of the situation
in the state and reports received from district collectors,
the cabinet declared 26 districts as "natural calamity-hit",
Kumar said after the meeting.

Kumar appealed to the Prime Minister to immediately
send a team of Central ministers for an assessment of the
situation and asked for a special financial package to the
state.

On the opposition's demand for declaring the entire
state drought-hit, the chief minister said the cabinet
discussed the matter and decided to include some more
districts after a thorough review of the situation.

The state government has declared Patna, Nalanda, Gaya,
Buxar, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Kaimur, Siwan, Arwal, Nawada, Munger,
Aurangabad, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Bhagalpur, Banka,
Saran, Jehanabad, Muzaffapur, Sitamarhi, Begusarai, Madhepura,
Kishanganj, Katihar and Vaishali as "calamity-hit".

Bihar, between June 1 and August 6, received just
331.7 mm of rain against the normal 568.5 mm, a deficiency of
42 per cent.

This resulted in 58 per cent decline in paddy
transplantation which was targetted at 87,722,41 acres. Paddy
could be planted in only 38,22,967 acres this year, official
sources said.

Pulse, another major crop in the state, could be
planted in just 1,41,156 acres of land against a target of
3,08,881 acres and oilseeds in 14,287 acres against a target
of 48,421 acres, the sources said.

Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister S K Modi
and Chief Secretary Anup Mukherjee were also present in the
meeting. PTI