Govt prepares to tackle deficit of rainfall in North India

NEW DELHI: Union Agriculture Minister, Radha Mohan Singh, Friday called a meeting of officials of other departments to review the preparedness for shortage of rainfall. The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted deficit of monsoon in North West area in the country.

According to these predictions the North West area will receive 85% rainfall, which is little less than the average.  According to these predictions it is expected that the rainfall will be deficient by 12%.

Last year also the prediction of IMD was made in the month of June for this region had indicated that the rainfall will be 85% and in 12 divisions there will be an expected deficiency of 12%. However the preparation of Government was such that sowing was affected only in 2% and the production was affected by 3% only.

“The slightly deficient prediction for this region will not have an adverse impact as the area under irrigation in this area is very high.  The status of reservoirs in this area is also very encouraging.  While the storage capacity in the North West region last year was only 38%, this year it is 42%.  It may be mentioned that the average storage capacity for this region for last 10 years has been 28% only.  Therefore there is no reason for any worry,” said the Agriculture Minister.

“Ministry for Power has also prepared a contingency plan for supply of adequate electricity.  Ministry of Fertilizer has already released 90 lakh tone fertilizers till May, 2015 to the States as against 60 lakh tones demanded by the States.  This is part of the advance preparedness for the kharif crop,” the Minister added.

All the Ministries are well prepared to handle drought and have nominated a nodal officer for the same.  Ministry of Agriculture has nominated Jt. Secretary level officer as nodal officer for each State.

Department of Animal Husbandry has also nominated a nodal officer for 8 regions.  Officers of the Seed Corporation also informed that sufficient quantities of seeds that can be effective in deficient rainfall are available.  Similarly officers of the Department of Animal Husbandry informed fodder seeds are also available in sufficient quantity.

Among others, Sanjeev Balyan, Minister of State for Agriculture,Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Secretary, ICAR, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Officers of Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Fertilizers, Secretary, NDMA, Officers from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) attended the meeting.