Rainfall deficiency in Punjab, Haryana at 65%

Chandigarh has received poor rains this season and the deficit has reached 65 per cent

Punjab and Haryana, the two leading agrarian states of the country, have received scanty rainfall this year, with the deficit as high as 65 per cent each in the two states.

Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, has also received poor rains, with a deficit of 65 per cent, an official of the Chandigarh’s Meteorological Department told PTI here on Monday. According to the data available for June 1 to August 31, Punjab received 138 mm against the normal 400.7 mm for the period.

Neighbouring Haryana received 131.3 mm rainfall during the period, against the normal 380.3 mm, a deficit of 65 per cent. Chandigarh received 244.7 mm of rain between June 1 and August 31 against the normal of 689.9 mm, resulting in a deficit of 65 per cent, the official said.

In Punjab, Barnala (deficit of 90 per cent against normal), Sangrur (85 per cent), Mansa (82 per cent) and Patiala (82 per cent), among others, received scanty rains. The situation was slightly better in comparison at places such as Gurdaspur, where the deficit stood at 28 per cent. Places in Haryana that received poor rain included Kurukshetra (80 per cent) and Panipat (80 per cent). The deficit at Yamunanagar stood at 44 per cent for the June 1-August 31 period. The Punjab government had sought a special package of Rs 2,330 crore from the Centre to deal with the prolonged dry spell.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has expressed concern over the drought-like situation in his state and had recently reviewed the situation with senior officers. Haryana has sought from the Centre a special package of Rs 4,829.25 crore to deal with the drought-like condition.

With polls in Haryana due in October, Hooda has said the State will even purchase power at higher rates from other states, but won’t allow the crops to wither away.

Main opposition Indian National Lok Dal had earlier demanded that entire Haryana be declared as drought-hit and farmers be adequately compensated in the wake of crisis.