Concerned over poor rainfall in the state, the Haryana government has demanded special financial relief of Rs 3,168.75 crore from the Union government to help the ailing peasantry of the state. Total crop sowing in the state stood at only 26.57 lakh hectares in the current crop season, as compared to 28.92 lakh hectares in the same period last year.

The Haryana CM, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, also demanded bonus and relaxation in specifications of paddy and bajra, to mitigate the impact of drought in the state. He said that 13 out of 21 districts of the state are facing drought-like conditions, and earnestly need special assistance for additional power purchase and additional cost incurred on diesel by the farmers.

Mr. Hooda added: "The problem has been compounded due to low availability of irrigation water in major reservoirs where the availability of water is at the level of 1/3 of the last year's level."

Haryana Chief Secretary, Dharam Vir, said that special financial package of Rs 3168.75 crore is needed for construction of water channels for village ponds or boring of tube wells, medicines, fodder for the cattle and seed for horticulture crops.

Mr. Dharmvir said: "The State Government, of its own, might not be able to sustain the burden of liability incurred on account of power purchase agreement and other relief measures given to the farmers to mitigate the effects of drought like conditions."