MASHHAD, Khorasan Prov. The drought which has struck the country this year is critical, Deputy Interior Minister in Charge of Coordination of Development Affairs, Ahmad Khorram said here Sunday night. According to the official, the amount of rainfall in the country this year is 40 percent less than that of the previous year, and 26 percent lower than the yearly average over the past 30 years.

The drought has inflicted some 8,800 billion rials in damage on farm lands and gardens, Khorram added. Water shortage in the province of Gilan alone has destroyed 6,000 hectares of paddy fields and is seriously threatening another 30,000 hectares, the deputy minister pointed out. The government has presented a draft bill to the majlis to provide a Rls.1,200 billion budget to facilitate campaign against the drought and give assistance to the agriculture sector, Khorram concluded.

(IRNA)