Erratic Monsoon Creates Problems Of Plenty, Paucity

One mans palliative is another mans poison.

Cliched? Probably. But if youve been following the temperamental Indian monsoon closely, chances are youll concede theres a measure of truth to this old adage.

Consider this: the south-west monsoon has played truant in Andhra Pradesh, plunging the state into a drought which is estimated to have already caused crop losses worth Rs 4,000 crore. As far as the states inhabitants are concerned, they cant get enough rainfall.

Meanwhile, it has been pouring steadily in Kolhapur district. So, why arent its citizens celebrating? Mainly because theyre busy battling floods which have thus far claimed eight lives and destroyed agricultural crops worth Rs 32 crore in 12 talukas.

According to a survey conducted in three phases by the district authorities, heavy rains had caused an estimated damage of about Rs 2.52 crore in July.

In the first week of August, damage to crops was estimated at Rs 7.70 crore. By the end of August, the total damage reported had risen to about Rs 22.68 crore. After damage to agricultural land, roads, school buildings and gram panchayat buildings is taken into account, the figure rises to about Rs 30.44 crore.

Nine houses collapsed in the district while 4,084 were partially damaged, the report added.

District unit BJP organiser J Kulkarni yesterday said crops of sugarcane, paddy, groundnut and jawar had been washed away in the western parts of the district. However, 10 to 20 per cent of groundnut, jawar, and cash crops could still be saved, he added. Speaking to media persons here, Kulkarni urged the government to supply fertilisers and quality seeds at a subsidised rate to the rain-affected farmers.

On the other hand, the crop loss in Andhra Pradesh due to failure of the south-west monsoon has been put at around Rs 4,000 crore. The state cabinet, which reviewed the drought situation at a special meeting in Hyderabad on Saturday, decided to submit a fresh memorandum to the Centre seeking Rs 1,300 crore to tide over the situation. It is also wants a team from the Centre to visit the state to asses the situation.

The cabinet decided to declare 755 of the 1,110 revenue mandals in Andhra Pradesh as drought-hit. Funds were released for immediate relief work like provision of drinking water, fodder for cattle and work for those rendered idle.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who will be in Delhi today, is likely to discuss the drought situation with Prime Minister I K Gujral and seek Central assistance from him.

The state government is keen that the Prime Minister should visit some of the drought-affected areas. Union agriculture minister Chaturanan Mishra had toured some of the affected districts last week. In the course of his visit, he said he would suggest that the Prime Minister and the finance minister visit the affected areas, in case the monsoon did not improve in the remaining period of September.

Most parts of the state have received heavy rainfall since last week. But according to official sources, these late rains partly helped to solve the drinking water problem, but did not changed the crop position.

These sources say that of the 81.67 lakh hectares of cultivable land in the state, sowing was completed only on 54.20 lakh hectares.