The Chinese central government has allocated 100 million yuan (US$1.25 million) in emergency aid for the areas hit hard by droughts in this spring-ploughing season, the Ministry of Finance said Tuesday.

The ministry said the areas cover south and southwest China and northwestern part of north China and eastern part of northwest China.

Reduced rainfall in south and southwest China since last winter caused fall of water levels of rivers and reservoirs in the regions, leaving some of those regions hit hard by droughts, said the ministry.

Meanwhile, little rainfall in northwestern part of north China and eastern part of northwest China resulted in widespread droughts, said the ministry.

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2006)