Central team discusses drought situation with Bihar CM

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar discussed the drought situation in the state with a visiting central team and sought central assistance to cope with the 'grave' situation.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday discussed the drought situation in the state with a visiting central team and sought central assistance to cope with the 'grave' situation.

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Kumar, who asked the 11-member team to submit a fact-based report to the Centre about the prevailing situation, apprised them of the state's preparedness to tackle the problem.

The team headed by Joint Secretary of Union Agriculture Ministry RK Tiwari made a survey of 12 out of 26 drought-hit districts. The members later held back-to-back discussions with Chief Secretary Anup Mukherjee and Kumar at the Chief Ministers' secretariat in the evening.

Kumar, who was accompanied by Principal Secretary, Finance, Navin Kumar, his Principal Secretary RCP Sinha besides the Chief Secretary s interacted with the team for the second time and apprised them of the steps taken by his government.

The steps included providing disel and seed subsidy to the farmers, drinking water to far-flung areas of Rohtas and Kaimur districts through water tankers and food and fodder distribution.