New Delhi, April 19: Around 33 crore people in 256 districts of 10 states are affected due to drought, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
The apex court is hearing a PIL on drought. It also questioned the Centre as to why figures of Gujarat are not included in the data submitted before the court.
In reply, the Centre claimed that it has released Rs 19,555 crore out of the total amount of Rs 38,500 crore allotted under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) in the current financial year to drought-hit states.
The court also asked the Centre about the details of the number of households in drought affected area which have got 150 days employment under MNREGA.
According to the Centre banks, too, are ready to reschedule the loan given to farmers in drought-hit area. But defaulters are not entitled for such relief. Poor monsoon in the last few years have led to drought in several states.
