Drought panel to meet next week: Pawar

An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought will meet on Tuesday to review the monsoon situation , as 22 per cent deficit rains so far have affected sowing of Kharif crops, particularly coarse cereals.

"I have planned EGoM on drought on coming Tuesday," Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who was recently made head of EGoM on drought, said.

The EGoM is authorised to review the situation and take "quick and timely decisions" on policy and other matters for effective management of drought.

Pawar, who joined office on Thursday after issues related to a week-long stand-off between the Congress and his party NCP were sorted out, said the ministry is collecting details from States on the impact of poor rains.

Earlier in the day, Pawar held discussions with Food Minister K V Thomas and Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General L S Rathore to review the monsoon situation.

Meanwhile, IMD said it expects monsoon deficiency to narrow down in the coming days with improvement in rains.

Monsoon rains have been deficient by 22 per cent so far this year across the country and the situation is worrisome in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The sowing of major kharif (summer) crops like rice, cotton, coarse cereals, oilseeds and pulses has been hit.