The Delhi Government has directed District Magistrates (DMs) to conduct a survey of agricultural land that has been affected due to the unseasonal rain and take preventive measures to help farmers. Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot has written to Divisional Commissioner KR Meena to issue directions to the DMs.
“Due to unseasonal rains in Delhi, a situation of waterlogging has arisen in agricultural land. All District Magistrates have been directed to conduct survey and take necessary steps for preventive measures. Under the leadership of CM @ArvindKejriwal we are committed to solve the problems of the affected people,” he said in a tweet. In Year 2020-2021, the crop area used for the cultivation of the paddy crops was 6,171 hectares, while the production was recorded 29,620 metric tonnes in the national capital. Maximum Paddy crop farmers were located in the Southwest district, West district, North district, and northwest district. The harvest of the paddy crop intensifies in the month of October. “In the last few days, due to unseasonal rains, there has been waterlogging in agricultural areas and low-lying areas.
I received this information from common people and farmers that there has been waterlogging in agricultural areas of Delhi’s villages, with the water level being more than two feet, which is affecting crops that are ready to be harvested,” read the letter in Hindi.
Seeing the current situation, it is essential that proactive measures be taken to save the crops and human lives, he said. “It is my request to you that all district magistrates, in order to assess the situation, they should carry out a land survey and take necessary solutions, including pumping out water using pumps. If it is needed, instructions can be issued under the DDMA’s contextual provisions,” added the letter. Gahlot said the agriculture in many parts of Delhi has been affected due to the unseasonal heavy rains in the last few weeks.
The information gathered from the general public and farmers stated that the low-lying areas have been flooded up to 2 feet following which ripe crops are getting damaged.
“In view of the above situation, it is necessary to reduce the crop damage. And for the safety of human life, proactive action should be taken. Therefore, I request you all the District Magistrates to assess the situation and conduct ground survey in their respective districts and take necessary preventive measures like Drainage of water by using pumps etc.
If necessary, Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) will issue the required orders issued under the provision,” it read.”A Report of each district of submerged areas and the cloaked drainage and action taken to avert the stagnant water in future should be submitted,” letter stated.
Meanwhile, the national capital has recorded 128.2 mm rainfall so far this month, the highest for October since 1956. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city had recorded 236.2 mm rainfall in October 1956. Delhi’s all-time record rainfall for the month is 238.2 mm, which was reported in 1954.The capital had witnessed a late spell of monsoon rains from September 21 to 24 due to an interaction between a cyclonic circulation and a low-pressure system.
However, the current rains are not monsoon showers, which receded from the city on September 29, after giving 516.9 mm rainfall against a normal of 653.6 mm, the IMD had said. The incessant rains, the result of an interaction between a western disturbance and a deep trough of easterly winds, also helped meet the yearly quota (774.4 mm) of precipitation.