PMO sounds drought alert across India

July 24, 2012 12:03

The Prime Minister's Office has sounded an alert over a deficient monsoon, directing ministries to help states facing drought-like situations by operationalizing contingency plans to distribute seeds, augment fodder and power and deal with drinking water shortages, reports the TOI. Rainfall is nearly below 40 percent in major agricultural states, the worst affected being Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

This is when millions of tons of foodgrain reserves -- a surplus so large that much of it lies rotting, will also help insulate India from the troubles facing other countries that have more fully embraced free trade.

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