Bangalore: Rains play Truant - Drought Threat Looms over State
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Jun 25: During the last 24 hours, several coastal regions of the state got satisfactory rains, although the rainfall has been much short of the expectations of the farmers. The city besides Honnavar and Karwar received about four cms of rain. Kundapur recorded 3 cms of rain. The meteorological department has predicted the rains to continue in the coastal districts. Other parts of the state remained dry.
The meteorological department's revised predictions of weak monsoon rains this year have worried both the centre and the state governments. Lack of rain is expected to affect food grains production, power and supply of drinking water. The state has decided to depute a delegation headed by the revenue minister Karunakar Reddy to Delhi to place the facts before the centre and seek its assistance to enable the state to manage the situation.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said that the government machinery has been geared up to face the eventuality of the shortage of rain. "The union finance minister will be holding a meeting to consider drought-like situation in the country next week. Earlier to that meeting, I have instructed that a delegation headed by the revenue minister must place the gloomy picture the shortage of rain has created in the state and urge the central government to come to the state's rescue," he added. He expressed his disappointment at the centre's failure to release any funds to tackle drought situation last year, although the state had demanded for a financial assistance of Rs 2,000 crore.
The government has taken steps like strengthening of Nemmadi centres to help the poor, starting of a 4,000 mw power unit in Kodagu etc., The government has also decided to come out with its liberalized policy on renewable energy sources.
The agricultural secretaries of various states facing drought will be meeting at Delhi on Thursday June 25 to discuss measures to face the situation. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday June 24, science and technology department minister of state Prathiviraj Chavan informed that the monsoon rains this time are expected to be much shorter than normal. However, the government pins its hopes on the prediction of good rains in July this year, he said. Union agricultural secretary T Nandakumar will be holding consultations with his state counterparts from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh etc., which have reported shortage of rainfall. Nandakumar will present a report thereof to the cabinet secretary on Friday.
The centre has asked the states to be ready with plans to face the situation arising out of failure of the monsoon if it so happens, like stocking of seeds for being supplied to farmers in case they need to sow the seeds again. The monsoon, which entered Kerala in the first week of June, has not advanced beyond Konkan coast in Maharashtra, even though it should have crossed Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh by June 15.