Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday demanded Central assistance of Rs 12,000 crore to tide over the drought situation in 33 of the total 38 districts of the state. Kumar, who is in New Delhi on a two-day visit, made the demand during his meeting with Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
He also demanded that a central team visit Bihar to assess the situation. The Bihar Chief Minister would be meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday over the issue.
Bihar government had on Wednesday declared 33 of the total 38 districts in the state as drought affected. Kumar said his government is keeping a watch on the situation and if required, the remaining five districts will also be declared drought-affected.
He maintained that monsoon has been 37 per cent deficient and the sowed crops in the state are drying. "We have informed them about our needs. We would want their (Centre) teams to visit Bihar... we are giving them a paper in this regard. I will meet the Agriculture Minister and the Prime Minister on this issue," he said when asked what transpired during his meeting with Chidambaram.
Asked about the amount of central assistance the state requires, Kumar said the amount required as per the assessment made now is Rs 12,000 crore but "it may increase later when the central team visits us."
"I have not given any paper to Chidambaram, I just apprised him of the situation," he said. Kumar will on Friday deliver a lecture at an annual programme of the National Commission for Minorities.
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