EC permission sought to declare Kerala drought-hit

The Kerala government will approach the Election Commission seeking permission to initiate measures towards classifying Kerala as a drought-affected state.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will write to the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Union Agriculture Minister seeking a relaxation in the  Centre’s norms to announce the state as drought-affected, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash said in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.

Kasaragod, Palakkad and Kollam have been identified as the most drought-affected districts. District collectors have been directed to ensure distribution of drinking water in the affected areas at a cost of Rs 13 crore.

The government has announced Rs 4 lakh each to families of people killed in sunstrokes. The state has also recorded crop loss due to drought conditions in 1,038 hectares of land.