Half of India’s States have been affected by drought but only four -- Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra -- have sought Central assistance so far, the Agricuture Ministry said in a statement here on Thursday.

In a communication to the governments of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the Ministry has asked them to submit a financial memorandum for immediate assistance from the National Drought Relief Fund.

“On the receipt of this information, the Centre‘s team will visit States to take stock of the situation and assess the assistance required,” the statement added. Central teams have so far visited three States and one team is currently on tour in Maharashtra to assess the quantum of assistance required.

In view of sustained dry spell during the last Kharif season, as also in the early Rabi sowing period in some parts of the country, states have also been asked to intimate the Centre immediately about the number of drought-affected districts, and whether drought has been declared in these areas.

While Maharashtra, which declared drought in 15,747 villages across 16 districts, and has sought Rs 4,000 crore as assistance from the Centre, Telangana reportedly has 200 mandals that are said to be hit by drought.

According to reports, 50 out of 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh are affected by drought, with the worst-hit being Faizabad, Jhansi, Lucknow, Allahabad, Mirzapurm, Ballia and Ghaziabad.

Agricultural productivity during Kharif has been has been hit this year and Rabi sowing in some regions has also been it.

According to a India Meteorological Department release in September, 44 per cent of the country had received deficient rainfall, with the deficiency particularly high in East and West Uttar Pradesh, at around 42 per cent and 44 per cent, respectively.

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