Over 5.48 lakh people affected due to floods in states: Govt

New Delhi: Over 5.48 lakh people and cropped area of 14.361.71 hectares have been affected by floods in various states till now this year, Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.

"The flood managing data is compiled every year by MHA/CWC on the basis of information received from states. As per data maintained by MHA, 5,48,067 people and cropped area of 14,361.71 hectares have been affected during the floods of 2016 so far," Union Minister of State for Water Resources Sanjeev Kumar Balyan said in a written reply.

To another question, he said the Union government sends inter-ministerial central teams to states which experience heavy damages due to floods and a NITI Ayog team had visited Madhya Pradesh for such assessment.

The Water Resources Ministry had also deputed a technical team for assessing causes of floods and to suggest remedial measures in Vidisha and Hoshangabad districts of Madhya Pradesh, he added.

On schemes implemented by the Centre in drought-hit areas, Balyan said the government provides additional employment of 50 days over and above 100 days per household under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The MGNREGS is executed by Union Rural Development Ministry.

Besides, he added, the government also supports irrigation projects in drought affected states by providing central assistance under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna.