Heat condition in north Bengal damages Jute and Aman paddy

Siliguri, Aug 4 (UNI) Six districts of north Bengal are virtually reeling under hot weather condition due to scanty rainfall, which largely damaged standing jute and paddy crops, agriculture and weather experts said.

The unusual weather also affected movement of wildlife and a variety of migratory birds in forests and water bodies of the region.

Four districts- Cooch Behar, Malda, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur- have been facing nearly drought condition since last June due to inadequate rainfall, that already damaged to standing jute and Aman paddy.

However, this humid weather has not affected tea cultivation in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts, the major tea growing region of Bengal.

North Bengal University (NBU) and MET officials said about 772 mm rainfall was recorded in Malda upto this time during 2005. But this year's rainfall was only 500 mm till date.

South Dinajpur had also similar weather condition with only 181 mm rainfall till date compared to 297 mm rainfall till July in 2005.

The district authority has made a stop gap arrangement storing water in the canal and reservoir from deep tubewells for irrigation into the paddy fields.

NBU's meteorological department professor Subir Sarkar said there was still possibility of rain as monsoon clouds were still active in the Bay of Bengal.

He expressed concern over the weather condition this year and said the region normally experiences floods in almost every monsoon. He, however, could not explain immediately why so much hot and unbearable weather, about average 36 to 38 degrees celsius, in the months of June and July in north Bengal.

Dr Sarkar emphasised that mansoon was now standing over the West and North India, which would take some more time to come here.

UNI XC PC RN1357