The decision was taken by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav after assessing detailed district-wise report of the drought situation. Among the districts declared drought-hit are Faizabad, Jhansi, Sant Ravidasnagar, Lucknow, Allahabad, Mirzapur, Ballia and Ghaziabad.
Extensive relief measures have been ordered by the chief minister and departments like irrigation, rural development, panchayati raj, agriculture, social welfare, institutional finance, animal husbandry and health have been asked to execute special schemes to mitigate the problems faced by farmers in these areas, a government official told. (IANS)