Assam: Entire region faces agricultural drought

GUWAHATI: Entire Assam is now engulfed by drought. All the 27 districts of state are facing agricultural draught. While in Manipur a drought has been declared, another Northeastern state of Nagaland is reeling under a drought-like situation.

Last week, a drought-like situation was declared in 14 districts of the state. A prolonged dry spell has hit the agriculture sector hard with sowing of seeds for paddy very badly affected. Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday reviewed the situation in the state with other cabinet colleagues and senior officials. With state facing such unprecedented conditions, the chief minister will personally monitor the situation in the state.

Sources in the revenue department explained, "We have declared a agriculture drought, which means that rainfall has been there, but it is 20% less than normal rainfall, thereby resulting in a prolonged dry spell." Sources in the state government said that deputy commissioners have been directed to set up control rooms in all the districts to monitor the situation. The government will provide assistance to farmers from the calamity relief fund. The government would provide 30 pump sets each in all the districts of the state for the purpose.

The state government has asked the deputy commissioners to draw up an action plan for supply of drinking water, fodder, irrigation etc. Revenue minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman, agriculture minister Pramila Rani Brahma, irrigation minister Nurzamal Sarkar, minister in charge of public health engineering Rihon Daimary, border areas development minister Gautam Roy, urban development minister Dinesh Prasad Goala attended the meeting.