Drought-hit Bundelkhand receives rainfall

Jhansi/Lucknow, Jun 24 (UNI) The districts of Jhansi, Jalaun, Lalitpur and Chitrakoot in drought-hit Bundelkhand region have received adequate rainfall, raising hope of a bumper Kharif crop.

''All the dams like Rajghat, Matatila, Govindsagar, Jamini, Rohini, Sukwa-dukwa, Barua Sagra and others are full which would be used for the irrigation,'' Ramendra Tripathi, Divisional Commissioner of Jhansi told UNI in Lucknow.

He said Lalitpur had so far received about 600 mm rainfall, which is equal to the rainfall received by the district from June to September last year. Similarly, Jhansi with about 270 mm and Jalaun with about 200 mm of rainfall has adequate water at their disposal.

The region had been going through some of the worst time during the last few years and the state government, for the first time, was compelled to contemplate cloud seeding for rain in this region with the help of Russian scientists. Now the things have undergone a sea-change within a span of ten days.

Mr Tripathi said the monsoon for Bundelkhand was a surprise package and many of the problems of this region would be solved.

He said the state government could also save a huge amount of money which was proposed to be spent on cloud seeding. As much as Rs 20 crore was estimated for the purpose.

It was only recently that the woes of the people of Bundelkhand had become the subject for the political parties to make allegations and counter-allegations. The spat between Congress general secretary and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi and UP Chief Minister Mayawati after formers' repeated visits to rural areas of Bundelkhand made headlines for long.

Mayawati, whose party has recently withdrawn support to UPA government at the Centre, had demanded special package for Bundelkhand but the scenario is not likely to continue with the shower bringing new hope.

She had deputed the officer to the rank of chief secretary to monitor the relief measures in the region leading to the frequent visits of the top officials to take stock of the situation.

Having gained the dubious distinction of some farmers' suicides, though officially denied, the entire area is looking up to bumper Kharif crop this year.

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