Drought looms large in state

41 blocks get deficient rainfall

With the state reeling under deficient monsoon and as many as 41 bocks in districts like Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Deogarh facing a rainfall deficit of 50 to 80 per cent, the situation is likely to worsen further if the monsoons do not bounce back within the next seven days.

The state which is currently adopting a 'wait and watch' approach is likely to press the panic button, should the state does not receive normal monsoon rains within a week. It is contemplating to approach the Centre for drought assistance if the rain gods do not smile on the state by then.

“We would watch the situation for around seven days. If the state does not receive normal monsoon rainfall by that time, we will be forced to approach the Centre for drought assistance. Three eastern India states- West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand which have been hit by deficient rainfall have already approached the Centre for drought assistance", said S N Patra, the state minister for revenue and disaster management.

The minister stated that the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had took a review meeting on the possibility of a drought like situation in the state on August 18.

The Chief Minister has instructed the state agriculture secretary U P Singh to form a task force to review the impact of deficient rainfall on kharif agriculture operations in the state. This task force is required to file a report every week in this connection.

The state has by and large received only low pressure induced rainfall during this monsoon season. Only 91 blocks of the state in the coastal districts like Cuttack, Khurda and Ganjam have recorded ore than normal rainfall in the months of June, July and August.

Though there have been no official reports of crop damage and the sowing as well as transplantation operations have been normal during this kharif season, the erratic and deficient monsoons was likely to cause damage to the standing paddy crops. Due to deficient monsoons, the the reservoir levels have plunged and this has affected the availability of water for irrigated lands.

While the situation is fine in case of large irrigation projects, minor projects do not have adequate water and to tackle the situation.