Uttar Pradesh to declare 20 districts as drought-hit

Lucknow, July 25 (PTI) In view of scanty rainfall, the
government of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh has decided
to declare 20 districts in the state as drought-hit, official
sources said Saturday.

At a high level meeting presided over by Chief Secretary
A K Gupta Friday, officials reviewed the prevailing situation
in the state following weak monsoon and decided to declare at
least 20 of the 71 districts in the state as drought-hit.

A formal announcement to this effect is likely to be made
later Saturday, they said.

The districts which have been identified as drought-hit
are Deoria, Ambedkarnagar, Jaunpur, Mau, Unnao, Ballia, Sant
Kabirnagar, Basti, Hardoi, Sultanpur, Fatehpur, Rai Barely,
Ghazipur, Kannauj, Bareilly, Manpuri, Farrukhabad, Kanpur
Dehat, Kanshiramnagar and Hathras.

The Chief Secretary has also sought a fresh assessment
report from all districts for updating an action plan for
drought management. PTI