The Empowered Group of Ministers, EGoM has approved a proposal of Diesel Subsidy Scheme to save the standing crops in the drought affected areas. The Minister of state for petroleum and natural gases, R P N Singh gave this information in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today. He said that the scheme will be applicable to such districts and areas where the rainfall deficit is more than 50 per cent as on the 15th July this year or to such talukas and districts which have been declared as drought affected. The farmers in the affected regions would be covered between 15th of July to 30th of September this year. He said that it is proposed to provide 50 per
cent subsidy on the cost of diesel to the affected farmers.