Centre okays Rs 107 crore drought relief package to Kerala

NEW DELHI: The high-level panel on National Disaster Management, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, has approved a central assistance of Rs 107 crore to Kerala that faced drought last year.

"In the recent meeting of High-Level Committee (HLC), Rs 107 crore has been approved to Kerala as drought relief package," a senior Agriculture Ministry official told PTI.

The central assistance will be sanctioned to the state for facing rabi (winter) crop losses due to drought in 2012, the official said.

Last year, Kerala faced drought due to unexpected deficit in rainfall during the southwest and northeast monsoons. Lack of rains affected power generation and agriculture in the state.