Drought-like situation in 5 dists: Sarma
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Guwahati: Assam cabinet on Friday approved notifying drought-like situation in five districts in western Assam due to significantly deficient rainfall — around 40% below normal — based on data from the meteorological department and groundwater commission.
CM
Himanta Biswa Sarma
in a post-cabinet briefing said a formal declaration of drought-like situation in Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Barpeta, Bongaigaon and Baksa districts will be issued by the revenue department following the cabinet's approval.
In view of the prevailing severe drought-like situation, the cabinet has considered it to be a state specific disaster and accorded in principle approval for extending compensation benefits to the affected beneficiaries in selected districts as per the SDRF norms.
Sarma said farmers who had insured their crops under the Fasal Bima Yojana will be eligible for compensation as per the guidelines.
A few other districts of upper Assam have also received less rainfall so far this year, and paddy output could be hit if it continues in July-Aug, he added.
According to a report by the Assam State Disaster management Authority, the state, due to its unique physiographic and climatic conditions, is one of the most disaster-prone areas in the country and is prone to multiple natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, cyclones and occasional droughts.
The report says Assam suffers periodic droughts due to variability in rainfall pattern over the years.
"Warming of the temperature is expected to reduce production of staple crops such as rice, horticulture produce, economically important tea produce, milk yields and fish catch, affecting the agriculture productivity and livelihood of people of Assam," the report says.
"All across the State, except in the southern districts, drought weeks are going to rise as well by more than 75% with respect to the base line (1971- 2000). This means reduced productivity in the primary sector i.e., agriculture and allied activity, thereby impacting life and livelihood of people in Assam," it adds.
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