The Jharkhand government on Saturday declared about two-thirds area of the state as drought-hit, announced payment of interim relief to the affected farmer families and also decided to seek financial assistance from the Centre for tackling the situation.

“In the review meeting of Jharkhand State Disaster Management Authority regarding drought, it was decided to declare 226 blocks of 22 districts of the state as drought-hit,” chief minister Hemant Soren informed in a Twitter post after the meeting on Saturday evening.

The state government will also provide an advance relief of Rs 3,500 to over 30 lakh

affected farmer families that will cost the state exchequer about Rs 1,200 crore, the chief

minister’s office stated in a release.

Earlier, the state’s agriculture department had prepared a report based on its findings on the required parameters for assessing drought conditions as laid down in the central government’s Manual of Drought Management 2016 that was discussed in the review meeting.

It was found that drought-like situations prevailed in 226 of the total 360 blocks, spread over 22 of the 24 districts of the state (barring Simdega and East Singhbhum), of which 154 were severely affected while the rest 72 had moderate impact.

The agriculture department had earlier sent teams across the state that assessed the situation in the light of drought impact indicators for assessing two main triggers, dry spell and vegetation cover and prepared a comprehensive report for consideration of the state government.

The rainfall deficit in the state stood at 21 per cent on September 30 that is considered as the cut-off date for measuring monsoon rainfall of a year, during the four-month period from June to September.

But then the situation was worse when the farmers actually needed rain for sowing. The rainfall deficit on August 15 was 35 per cent and it impacted agricultural activities.

The total sowing of all crops was 24.64 per cent on July 31 this year, compared to 56.19 per cent on the same date last year (2021).

“It may take about 7 to 10 days,” state’s agriculture director Nisha Oraon who attended the review meeting informed when asked about the date when the state government would approach the Centre for seeking financial assistance for combating drought.

The state government will prepare a report for sending to the Centre after considering the proposals received from various concerned departments, she informed.

Still, the central government’s assurance of financial assistance may take time.

“They will most probably send a team for conducting an on-the-spot assessment of our findings at certain areas before taking a final decision,” the agriculture director opined when the point was raised.