New Delhi, Sep 12 (UNI) The government on Wednesday sanctioned an additional financial assistance to Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, for loss of agriculture crops in 2017-18.

A high-level committee, chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the additional assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) of Rs 157.23 crore to Uttar Pradesh and Rs 60.76 crore to Maharashtra.
During the period of 2017-18, the Rabi crop was damaged due to drought in Uttar Pradesh, while crops in Maharashtra was affected by the pest attack and cyclone during 2017.
'Kerala, which witnessed huge devastation due to recent floods, has not been considered for further Central assistance so far, as the State Government is yet to send the memorandum for the additional assistance from the Centre,' a top Government functionary said.
For seeking financial assistance from the Centre due to natural calamities, the state has to send a memorandum to the Centre and after that, the government sends a team to assess the damage. The Centre sanctions additional financial assistance on the basis of that report, the official added.
The Centre has already disbursed Rs 600 crore of assistance to Kerala.
Union Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and senior officers of Home, Finance, Agriculture and NITI Aayog were present in the meeting.
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