Question raised in Lok Sabha on damage to crops, 28/07/2015
Question raised in Lok Sabha on damage to crops, 28/07/2015. State Government is empowered to undertake necessary relief measures in the wake of natural calamities like, drought, hailstorm, pest attack & cold wave/frost from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) which is readily available with them. State Governments have been requested to take immediate steps to address the notified calamities by utilizing the funds available under SDRF. Additional financial assistance, over and above SDRF, is considered from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for natural calamities of severe nature on receipt of a memorandum from the State. Memoranda have been received from the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana seeking financial assistance from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) in the wake of hailstorm. The main Rabi Crops affected are wheat, maize, mustard, gram, pea, lentil, vegetables, etc. Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) have constituted Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to visit the affected areas for assessment of the ground situation and recommendation of financial assistance. Details of financial assistance sought/approved from the NDRF and amount released from SDRF for hailstorms affected State is annexed.