256 districts affected by drought: Govt tells SC

Government told Supreme Court that 256 districts with a population of about 33 crore spread over 12 states are affected by the drought. Additional Solicitor General P.A. Narasimha, however, clarified that the declaration of a particular area as drought affected does not mean that the entire population of the area is affected by the natural calamity. 

He said the total population in such areas may be 33 crore but the actual number of people affected by the drought is likely to be less than what is reflected in the gross population figures of affected districts.

A



bench of Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice N.V. Ramana said that about 25 per cent of the country's total population is affected by the drought. The court asked the Centre to apprise it that how many households in the drought-hit areas got 150 days employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA). 

The Apex Court also said that the Centre should adopt modern technology to assess drought situation in the States instead of following eye estimation method which is not even mentioned in the mannual for drought management.