Today, Indian Government announced a relief package of about Rs 1,900 crore to states hit by poor rains are facing drought-like situation. Government offered a diesel subsidy of 50 per cent to farmers for saving standing crops.

This decision was taken in a meeting of Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought which was headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

Sharad Pawar said that this burden of subsidy on diesel would be shared equally by the Centre and the state governments.

Sharad Pawar said the EGoM has approved Rs 1,440 crore under integrated watershed management programme to Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Another Rs 453 crore would be given under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) to Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Haryana.

The panel approved release of Rs 38 crore under NRDWP to Karnataka, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

The EGoM also decided to increase the subsidy on seeds of various crops. The panel also approved waiving import duty on oilmeal cake to increase feed supply.