The Congress has demanded the Manohar lal Khattar Government in Haryana, to immediately declare at least 11 out of the 21 districts which received more that 25 per cent less rainfall this monsoon season, drought-hit.
Kiran Choudhry, leader of Haryana Congress legislature Party (ClP), on Sunday that out of the 21 districts, at least 50 per cent received woefully inadequate rainfall ranging from 35 per cent to 66 per cent. And going by the norms laid down by the Central Government, drought has to be declared in an area if the deficiency in rainfall exceeds 25 per cent, she said.
The 11 districts where the shortfall in precipitation exceeded many times more than the stipulated 25 per cent up to September 16, 2016 include Kurukshetra (-66 %), Panipat (-50%), Panchkula (-58%), Karnal (-31%), Kaithal (-36%), Ambala (-52%), Rohtak (-50%), Sonepat (-57%), Sirsa (-37%) and Fatehabad (35 %). In all, Haryana which shares the food basket of the country with Punjab, has recorded more than 24 per cent deficit rainfall this season. Now, that the monsoon has entered the withdrawal mode and there is no scope for making up any shortfall, said Choudhry. She said that in 2015, though the Central Government had declared 13 states, including Haryana, drought-hit, the BJP Government in the state did not do so. Even the SC had questioned the state for its refusal to declare drought despite 30 per cent deficient rainfall, she added.