Rajasthan declares drought in 26 out of 33 districts

Posted 08 27 2009 4:05PM

JAIPUR (Reuters) – Rajasthan government has declared a drought in 26 out of 33 districts following over 50 percent damage to the crops due to poor monsoon this year, a senior official said.

"Twenty-six districts of the state have been declared drought-hit following the submission of special survey, due to insufficient rains this year," A. R. Pathan, deputy director in the disaster management and relief department, told Reuters on Tuesday.

He said in all 32,833 villages spread over 26 districts have been affected. A notification to this effect has been issued and would remain in force till July 15, 2010.

The state government had in an emergency cabinet meeting on August 10 ordered a special survey to assess damage to the crops in the state within 15 days following insufficient rains.

The affected districts are Ajmer, Alwar, Banswara, Barmer, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Bundi, Chittuargarh, Churu, Dausa, Dungarpur, Ganganaagr, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Naggaur, Palim, Rajsamand, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar, Sirohi, Tonk and Udaipur.

Rajasthan is a major producer of guar, cotton, soybean.