Jharkhand government has declared the entire state as drought-hit following scant rainfall during the monsoon, official sources said in Ranchi. The decision was taken on Saturday night after Chief Minister Arjun Munda met his cabinet colleagues and senior bureaucrats.
The state government estimates a loss of Rs 2000 crore due to the drought and the state will demand a special package from the Centre, sources said.
Reviewing the district-wise rainfall and paddy plantation in a two-hour high-level meeting, the chief minister directed the officials to launch relief work expeditiously and device suitable crop insurance for the farmers to compensate losses.
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