Cabinet to discuss drought today
Agri Minister inspects paddy fields of Bishnupur
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 16 2012:
With less monsoon rains being received in the state, thereby creating difficulties for the farmers to grow paddy in their fields, the State Cabinet, which is scheduled to meet tomorrow at 4 pm, would be discussing issue related to declaration of drought in the State.
According to an official source, in addition to discussing the drought situation, the Cabinet meeting would also deliberate on the motion moved by Opposition MLA Dr I Ibohalbi on the floor of the House regarding disposal of a huge quantity of highly poisonous insecticides in the custody of Agriculture Department.
According to the reports obtained from Meteorological Unit stationed at Tulihal Airport, the amount of rainfall received till April last year was 332.3 mm.
However, this time only 187.3 mm was received during the corresponding period.
Moreover, during the first week of July last year 40.2 mm of rainfall was received.
But this time, only 17.1 mm has been received.
Considering the hardships faced by farmers in the state, who are not being able to plough their fields, the State Cabinet would be discussing necessary measures to be taken up to tackle the drought situation in the state, the source added.
The source observed that the State Government cannot straightaway declare drought in the state.
Before declaring a state as drought hit, the Central government has to be informed about the prevailing situation first, after which a team of central officials would be dispatched for assessing the situation.
The team after careful assessment of the situation would file its report to the Centre.
Only then, drought can be declared in the state and all possible help would be provided by the Centre.
Keeping this in mind, the State Cabinet would certainly decide on approaching the centre to send a Central team to assess the drought like situation in the state.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Abdul Nasir today inspected the condition of parched paddy fields in Bishnupur District along with officials of Agriculture department.
Bishnupur district is one of the highest rice producing districts in the state and it is likely to face drought like situation if the seasonal rain fails to arrive within the next one week.
During the inspection visit, the team witnessed a number of dried and cracked paddy fields which are left unfit for ploughing.
The Minister also came across paddy fields where there are no canals to drain in water from other sources.
The existing canals were also found to be in bad shape in certain areas of Moirang, Kairenbikhok, Phubala, Thinungei, Naransena, etc.
"We cannot do anything as our rain fed fields remains dry," lamented O Premkumar, a farmer of Naranseina, added, "Now, we have no option but to try another crop in place of rice" .
Stating that two-third of the agricultural land in the State are yet to receive seasonal rain for cultivation,Manipur Loumi Lup (MLL), a body of farmers in the State, has been demanding immediate announcement of drought in the State.
There are about 1.9 lakh hectares of agricultural land in the State.
Urging the state government to announce drought, MLL also sought help from the concerned authority to make small dams in the nearby rivers to supply irrigation facilities besides issuing pump sets to the needy farmers.
Interacting with Hueiyen Lanpao during the inspection, an official of the Agriculture Department informed that Thoubal and Bishnupur district are the two most worst affected districts.
Proper plantation of crops is being done in Ando in Imphal East district.
He also pointed out that the alleged harmful insecticides in stock of the department are not all poisonous and there are no cases of them being deadly poisonous.
The issue has been discussed along with Opposition MLA K Thamarjit and other experts of MU and CAU.
Since the insecticides need to be disposed by sending them to West Bengal, the issue may be taken up for discussion in the Cabinet meeting tomorrow.
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