Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has agreed to send a central team to assess the situation in 28 of Bihar's 38 districts that were declared drought affected by the state government, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said today.

Authorities are monitoring the situation in the ten remaining districts and if the areas fail to receive adequate rainfall in the current month, then they will also be declared drought-hit, Kumar, who submitted a memorandum to the prime minister seeking Rs 5062.75 crore central assistance to tackle the drought, told reporters here.

Stating that the the prime minister assured help, Kumar alleged the Centre's concern towards people of Bihar reeling under natural calamity for the past four years was apathetic.

He charged the Centre did not release funds for the flood affected in 2007 and also victims of the deluge caused by Kosi river after it changed course following a breach in Kushaha embankment in Nepal in August 2008.

Stating that the Centre also did not provide adequate financial assistance to tackle drought in 26 districts last year, he hoped it will release enough funds this time around as there is a shortage in the state calamity relief fund.

He said the state government had taken steps to ensure that relief operations in drought-affected districts continued and a crisis management group was created under the chief secretary and task forces under district magistrates.

Uninterrupted power supply for six hours has been ensured in drought-affected districts. Besides the government stopped collection of land revenue, irrigation tax and cooperative loans while creating job opportunities. It is contemplating to provide gratuitous relief to the affected farmers, Kumar said.

The farmers of drought-hit districts will be provided financial aid without awaiting for central assistance, Kumar said.