After getting reports from the State Governments, the Agriculture Ministry has deputed inter-ministrial Central team to six States — Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jharkhand and Odisha — to assess drought situation across the States. These six States and the Karnataka Government had declared drought for the kharif (summer) 2018 season. Barring Odisha, the other States have submitted a memorandum seeking funds from the Central Government. As per IMD, 250 of the 681 districts across the country have faced deficient rainfall this year.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rain deficiency is recorded 9 per cent this year. The States like Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalya, Bihar, West Rajasthan, Gujarat, North-East and parts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have witnessed below normal rain. Out of total 36 sub-divisions, as many as 24 have witnessed normal rain, while 10 continue to remain rain-deficient and two sub division has recorded excess rain.
Already, a team has visited Karnataka and submitted its report. Other teams are in the process.
The report is first vetted by a sub-committee headed by the Agriculture Secretary. Thereafter, the recommendations are placed before the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh-headed high-level committee seeking approval for the release of funds from National Disaster Response Fund. According to a new manual on drought management issued by the Union Ministry of Agriculture in December 2016, the Centre will only provide funds to State Governments in case of “Severe” drought, not “mild”. Since the yardstick to measure the severity of drought is stricter, the new conditions make it more difficult for the States to prove “severe” drought and get relief from the Centre.
Recently, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Nripendra Misra, the Principle Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in seeking a financial assistance of Rs 7,962.63 crore to tackle the prevailing drought in Maharashtra. The Maharashtra Government has identified 201 talukas in 32 districts that are facing water scarcity owing to deficient rainfall in the southwest monsoon season. Marathwada region seems worst affected.
In Bihar of the 38 districts, 24 witnessed rain deficient this monsoon. As per data, rain deficiency recorded in Arariya 21 per cent; Arwal 30 per cent; Begu Sarai 26 per cent; Bhojpur 33 per cent; Darbhanga 28 per cent; Jehanabad 33 per cent; Jamui 31 per cent; Katihar 34 per cent; Khagria 36 per cent; Muzzaffarpur 41 per cent; Patna 27 per cent and east Champaran 32 per cent.
In Gujarat, the rain deficiency in Devbhoomi Dwarka recorded 42 per cent; Jamnagar 29 per cent; Kachchh 62 per cent; Morbi 51 per cent; Porbandar 28 and Rajkot 30 per cent in Saurashtra and Kutch sub division. Similarly, rain deficiency in Ananthapur, Chittoor, Cuddapah and Kurnool in Rayalseema recorded 33 percent, 41 per cent, 60 per cent and 46 per cent respectively.
In Karnataka, the official said 72 out of 100 taluks were severely affected by drought during the kharif season, while there was moderate impact in rest of the taluks.
In Jharkhand, the rain deficiency is recorded in 191 talukas in 18 districts. In Andhra Pradesh, six districts have reported drought like situation this year.
Even a large chunk of Uttar Pradesh received 40 per cent deficit monsoon but the state has not declared drought. Ten districts in West Bengal received deficit rainfall of more than 20 per cent but the state is yet to declare drought. West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh contribute more than one-fourth of India’s rice production.