Scanty rainfall affects 1 lakh hectare
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 27 2019:
Agriculture Minister V Hang-khanlian today informed the State Assembly that around one lakh hectares of paddy fields have been affected by scanty rainfall this year.
Replying to a query raised by K Meghachandra, Hangkhanlian stated that Agriculture Department has written to the State Government to sanction Rs 12.91 crore for planning alternative crops and another Rs 6.2 crore as compensatory budget to make up for the loss caused by inadequate rainfall to paddy cultivation.
To cope with the inadequate rainfall, the department distributed 206 water pump-sets apart from preparing paddy nursery over 300 hectares.
All the paddy fields are not facing water scarcity.
However, if the Centre declares the State as drought-affected, all paddy cultivators would get monetary assistance through Relief and Disaster Management Department, said the Agriculture Minister.
Replying to a query raised by Okram Surja-kumar, RD&PR Minister Th Biswajit clarified that the State Government did not claim any fund from the Centre under MGNREGS in connection with the scanty rainfall received by the State.
By working extra days above the total number of man-days guaranteed in a year under MGNREGS, liabilities can be created.
For the current year, the State has already created a liability of Rs 10.8 crore, Biswajit said.
To a query raised by Ksh Biren about arrest of some people and seizure of licensed guns for threatening people during the last Lok Sabha election at Chalou and Pungdongbam Uyum-khong, Chief Minister N Biren said investigation into the case has not been completed and no charge-sheet has been filed as expert opinion is awaited.