Drought like situation in Asom

Guwahati, Aug 10 (UNI) Asom is facing a serious 'drought-like' situation as it has been experiencing scanty or very little rainfall this monsoon indicating a famine in the coming days.

Official sources said at least sixteen districts of Lower and middle Asom and entire North belt of the Brahmaputra, besides Barak valley, are experiencing drought-like situation due to to absence of monsoon rains.

The affected districts are Dhubri, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Nalbari Darrang, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Karimganj, Cachar, Kokrajhar, Kamrup, Barpeta, Nagaon, Hailakandi and Morigaon.

State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi held a high level meeting yesterday to review the latest drought like situation in the state.

Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani Brahma also attended the meeting.

High officials of Agriculture, Irrigation, Revenue and District Rural Development Agency have participated in the meeting.

Soon Agriculture office sources here said about 200,000 lakh hectare of crop land have been affected due to the drought-like situation in the state. More than 28 lakh farmers and 10 lakh agriculture labourers are directly affected by the prevailing situation in the state.

However, necessary measures have been taken to provide relief to the affected farmers, the sources added.

''The government is taking measures on a war-footing to activate about two lakh of shallow tubewells and low lift pumps in these districts for providing water to the cultivators,'' the sources said. Revenue department had released over Rs 70 lakh till now and the state government has sanctioned Rs one crore for this purpose, the sources said adding that now all affected districts will receive about Rs six lakh to provide diesel to the farmers for running shallow tubewells and low lift pumps.

District level committee with District Deputy Commissioner as Chairman has been formed to monitor the irrigation facilities in the affected districts. Besides DC, district Agriculture officer, Executive Engineer (Agriculture) and public leaders of the areas will be the members of the committees.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Officer of Nalbari district, have been suspended yesterday for negligence to his duties,the sources said.

The meeting has chalked out an ambitious programme on Ravi crops to be taken up in the state following failure of 'Sali paddy,' sources said.

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