Bihar braces for drought after deluge

BIHAR is in for a drought- like situation with the monsoon still playing truant across the state. Except Purnia, none of the 38 districts has received normal rainfall over the past month and a half, triggering panic among farmers and authorities. Ironically, the state had faced devastating Kosi floods last year. But this year, the possibility of a drought looms large. Several districts, including Buxar, Bhojpur, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Samastipur, Khagaria and Begusarai, have received negligible rainfall. In June, the rainfall deficit was 52 per cent. In the first fortnight of July, it stands at 62 per cent. The rainfall crisis has already dealt a blow to the state government’s target of paddy transplant in 35.5 lakh hectares. According to agriculture department sources, paddy saplings have been planted so far in only 2.6 lakh hectares — 7.32 per cent of the government’s target. Taking cognisance of the impending disaster, the state government has chalked out a contingency plan to deal with the situation. It has raised its contingency fund from Rs 350 crore to Rs 1,500 crore and set up a crisis management group headed by chief secretary RJM Pillai. Chief minister Nitish Kumar, who held a high- level review meeting with top officials here on Monday, said the group would meet every day to monitor the situation. “ Given the scenario, Bihar seems to be heading for a possible crisis,” he said. “ But we are prepared with all contingency plans.” Nitish has directed the Bihar State Electricity Board ( BSEB) officials to provide uninterrupted power supply for at least eight hours in the rural areas to help the farmers irrigate their land. He said BSEB’s chairman had been asked to prepare the schedule and fix the duration of supply in all villages. The board has also been asked to hold daily joint meetings with the minor irrigation department officials to review the condition of state- and private- owned tubewells and ensure replacement of burnt transformers at the earliest. The government has also decided to extend the diesel subsidy of Rs 15 per litre to farmers beyond two rounds of irrigation. The government has also decided to provide subsidy for seeds to all farmers who had lost them because of scanty rainfall. According to an estimate, the farmers have already lost approximately 50 per cent of the paddy saplings due to heat so far. Agricultural scientists in the state have already advised farmers to sow pulses, vegetable, oilseed and maize instead of paddy, if the rains continue to elude Bihar. There are also suggestions to opt for short- duration paddy variants which are ready for harvesting in four months. According to the meteorological department, Bihar had received 404.4 mm rainfall against the normal 317.5 mm by July 13 last year which was 46 per cent more than normal. But this year, the state has experienced only 121.8 mm rainfall — 62 per cent less than normal during the month. The Met office was hopeful that Bihar may get some rain in the next 48 hours.