New Delhi, July 26
The north-western parts of the country, including Punjab and Haryana, have experienced 39 per cent less rainfall this monsoon and the prospects of its revival appear bleak in the next few days. The water crisis could deepen as the Bhakra and Pong Dam reservoirs are only 34 per cent of their normal storage.
A high-level meeting in the Union Agriculture Ministry today discussed the emerging drought situation and the strategies to be adopted to minimise the sufferings.
Sources said officials at the meeting expressed concern that the overall deficiency of monsoon in July, which is crucial for sowing of crops, was of the order of 39 per cent in north-west India as compared to 22 per cent in the whole of the country.
Further, there were 30 districts in the country which were experiencing drought consequently during the past four years and should be a major concern for planners.
The officials were informed that cyclonic circulations were weak and improvement in the rainfall during the next week was unlikely.
The meeting observed that this progressively building-up deficiency was a major concern in the area already sown.
However, if rain continued to play truant in the days to come, there would be more requirement of irrigation by pumping groundwater with additional investments in electricity and diesel, which would add to the cost of cultivation.
The officials were of the view that instead of shifting animals to neighbouring states, cattle camps should be organised along canals where drinking water was available.
The only dependable source of dry fodder would be rice straw in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.
Poor-quality groundwater in Haryana (65 per cent area) and southwest Punjab (20 per cent area) might have to be used for sowing.
The poor quality water can be improved by adding gypsum and made fit for irrigating crops.
