Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
No 2
AUGUST 22-23, 2010
This initiative is an attempt to provide periodical updates on Drought Situations and related events/news with
respect to Drought in Odisha. News from Odia and English (Bhubaneswar internet editions) news papers are put
together at one place to provide an appreciation of Drought in Orissa periodically.
This Drought Update is being circulated among media, decision makers – legislatures, bureaucrats etc. with an
aim to catalyze informed and expeditious decisions and actions.
We request to all recipients and their civil society contacts/friends to kindly mail (baitarani@gmail.com) /phone
(Priyabrata:9438286393) us such events/developments related to Drought in your areas for adding value and
meaning to this Civil Society Initiative.
Needless to say that all such news will be acknowledged with source
CONTENTS
1. Status of rainfall as per our analysis of IMD data ..............................................2
2. News (Headlines) from Odia Media during Aug 22-23, 2010 ................................2
a. Drought Situation in the State ............................................................................................... 2
b. Drought Affected Areas ....................................................................................................... 2
c. Impact on Agriculture ......................................................................................................... 2
d. Response of the State/Central Govt ........................................................................................ 3
3. Selected News from Local English Media (22-23 Aug) ........................................3
a. Eastern states face spectre of Drought ..................................................................................... 3
b. Take steps to save standing crops: BJP..................................................................................... 3
c. No rain: Spectre of drought looms over Kendrapada ..................................................................... 4
Annexure I : Details of Rainfall received during Monsoon Season at 191 gauging stations of Water
Resources Department in 9 river basins ..............................................................5
- Compiled by
Pranab R Choudhury, Sucharita Mishra & Priyabrata Satapathy
Odisha State Center, Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India & Odisha Water Forum
Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India
baitarani@gmail.com
1
Odisha Drought Update- Aug 22- 23, 2010
An analysis of the cumulative rainfall data available in the website of Water Resources
department (from IMD) over 191 gauging sites in 9 River basins of Odisha till 23rd August 2010
shows (detail table in Annexure I)
o 144 (75%) of 191 sites have less than 10% of rainfall this year than the average of last 3
years which include 79 of 103 sites in the Mahanadi Basin alone
o 115 (60%) of 191 sites have less than 20% of rainfall this year than the average of last 3
years which include 50 of 103 sites in the Mahanadi Basin alone
o 26 (14%) of 191 sites having less than 50% rainfall this year than the average of last 3 years
which include 10 of 103 sites in the Mahanadi Basin alone
c. Impact on Agriculture
o Scanty rainfall worries farmers(The Pragatibadi-22.08.2010)
o Lack of rain leads to agricultural loss in the state(The Pragatibadi-22.08.2010)
o Disturbed Monsoon leads to agricultural loss(Pragatibadi-22.08.2010)
o Erratic rains: no water in the canal for irrigation(The Khabara-22.08.2010)
o No water for Kharif crop due to scanty rainfall(The Samaja-23.08.2010)
o Water scarcity for Kharif crop: Farmers worries(The Samaja-23.08.2010)
o No water for irrigation due to scanty rainfall(The Sambad-23.08.2010)
1
The Samaj, The Sambad, The Dharitri, The Pragatibadi, The Khabar & The New Indian Express; all
Bhubaneswar Edition
2
Odisha Drought Update- Aug 22- 23, 2010
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Eastern-states-face-spectre-of-drought/Article1-589640.aspx
Kushadhwaja Choudhury (46), a resident of Basada village in Jamankira block of northwest Orissa’s
Sambalpur distict, is known for trying out innovative methods of farming in the area. But two successive
droughts in the region have unnerved him. “I sowed paddy in 20 acres of land,” said a dejected Choudhury.
“But I won’t go in for transplantation.” The spectre of drought stares Orissa, threatening to hit the kharif
(summer) paddy crop. Out of the state’s 30 districts, agricultural activities have been seriously affected in
at least 11 districts because of deficient rainfall. The state received 16 per cent less rain this monsoon,
down from the average normal of 773.6 mm, till mid-August. “We desperately need rainfall in the next 10
days,” said Orissa Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro. “Otherwise, the situation will go out of hand.” Of
314 blocks in the state, only 91 had received normal rain in June, July and August, he said. Orissa is not the
only state severely hit by deficient rainfall — when parts of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
are deluged by rain. With a deficit of 31 per cent and many irrigation schemes in a shambles, all 38
districts of Bihar are facing a drought-like situation. According to state estimates, around 15 million rural
families are experiencing shortages of food, fodder and drinking water. Paddy is cultivated in 3.8 million
hectares in Bihar. But because of scanty rainfall, only 50 per cent paddy transplantation is complete this
year. “Without the Centre’s support it would be difficult for the state to tackle the situation as this is the
second consecutive year when Bihar has received deficient rain,” Agriculture Minister Renu Kumari said.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking Rs
5,069 crore to provide succour to drought-hit people. In neighbouring Jharkhand, Governor M.O.H. Farook’s
advisory council has already declared the entire state drought-hit. Rainfall has been 45 to 60 per cent
below normal this year. With an average rain shortfall of 33 per cent, the situation in 11 drought-stricken
districts of south Bengal is worsening. With one fourth of the state’s area declared drought-affected, there
will be no paddy farming on 1.1 million hectares this season, Agriculture Minister Naren De said. This would
mean a paddy shortfall of at least 1.7 million tonnes.
http://expressbuzz.com/states/orissa/take-steps-to-save-standing-crops-bjp/200441.html
Express News Service
First Published : 23 Aug 2010 09:49:02 AM IST
Last Updated : 23 Aug 2010 11:54:37 AM IST
BHUBANESWAR: While the prolonged dry spell has cast a shadow on the kharif prospects, the divergent
views of two senior ministers of the Naveen Patnaik Government on the crop situation has baffled many.
Senior BJP leader and former minister BB Harichandan today slammed the Government for playing with the
lives of the farmers when the entire State is facing a droughtlike situation. While Revenue Minister SN
Patro said the possibility of a drought will not be ruled out if there is no rain in the next few days,
Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout said nothing will happen even if there is no rain in the next 15 days.
Claiming that 11 districts are already affected by drought, Harichandan said the divergent views of the two
ministers were reported in media even as many parts of the State have started experiencing moisturestress
condition damaging standing crops.
2
Bhubaneswar Editions of The Pioneer, The Times of India & The New Indian Express
3
Odisha Drought Update- Aug 22- 23, 2010
The Chief Minister who took stock of the situation five days ago was informed that deficient rainfall of 50
to 70 per cent was reported in 41 blocks and the rainfall in some places is 80 per cent less than the normal.
Although the low pressure-induced rains in the first week of this month were widespread and enough for
transplantation and beusaning, the BJP leader said that there is no sign of monsoon for the last two weeks.
Besides, the weathermen have their doubts about formation of a low pressure in the next one week.
The Government should take contingency measures to save the standing crops by operationalising all the
defunct lift irrigation points and provide adequate subsidy to the farmers to buy diesel pump sets to draw
water from the nearest water sources to save their crops. But the Government seems very callous when the
farmers are having nightmare, he said.
He further advised the Government to encourage the farmers to take up rabi crops by providing them with
seeds, fertilisers and other farm inputs without delay. He cautioned the Government that it will be
responsible for the consequences if it failed to save the farmers.
As the monsoon plays truant, the pace of inter-cultural operation has slowed down in Kendrapada district
due to lack of water in the fields. As a result, dry soil condition prevails in this coastal belt.
Experts are of the view that if there are no good rains in the next week, the spectre of drought definitely
looms large over the district.
The district has recorded deficit rainfall and is experiencing water scarcity for taking up kharif operation.
The rainfall in the district is less than 30 per cent compared to what it should be by this time of the
season. The situation has unnerved the farmers. The dry spell has started affecting crop in high and
medium lands. If the situation continues for a few more days, the standing crop in low-lying areas would
also be affected, experts feared.
According to the district Agriculture Department sources, the deficient monsoon has hit agricultural
operations leaving the farmers high and dry. The situation may worsen if it does not rain within the next
four or five days.
"Whatever crops we have sown, they are drying up. Cracks have developed in some of the agriculture
fields. Crops are also infected by pests because of scarcity of water. We are spending sleepless nights
thinking about the coming days," said a farmer of Mahakalpada, Sridhar Rout.
Reports collected from across the district indicate that in the absence of rain during this month, which is
considered crucial for paddy cultivation, the farmers have been forced to exploit underground water.
"Earlier, with the onset of pre-monsoon showers, the farmers used to prepare their fields for major
transplantation work during the monsoons. This time, a majority of the farmers have restricted their
activity to nurseries, delaying transplantation. The delayed monsoon and absence of pre-monsoon showers,
coupled with prolonged power cuts, have resulted in a perceptible rise in the use of generators to run
submersible pumps in many parts of the district," stated secretary of the district Krushak Sabha Gayadhar
Dhal.
Many lift irrigation points are not working due to shortage of electricity, he added.
4
Odisha Drought Update- Aug 22- 23, 2010
Annexure I : Details of Rainfall received during Monsoon Season at 191 gauging stations of
Water Resources Department in 9 river basins
http://www.dowrorissa.gov.in/Flood/CumulativeRainfall.htm
(Cumulative rainfall in mm upto 23-Aug)
Sl Cumulative Rainfall in mm Compared
No %
Difference
of this year
from last 3 Year:2010 Year:2009 Year:2008 Year:2007
Station years
Rain Gauge River Basin average
1 AKHUAPADA BAITARANI 20.8 523.20 575.00 625.00 783.00
2 ALIPINGAL LOWER MAHANADI 28.4 705.00 851.00 1026.00 1077.00
3 ALTUMA LOWER BRAHMANI 34.6 498.50 591.00 1178.00 517.00
4 AMBABHONA UPPER MAHANADI 23.2 572.00 862.00 468.00 905.00
5 AMBIKAPUR UPPER MAHANADI 42.8 247.70 231.00 892.00 177.00
6 ANANDAPUR BAITARANI 32.8 596.40 663.00 892.00 1108.00
7 ANDHIYAKORE UPPER MAHANADI 13.9 310.40 172.00 188.00 721.00
8 ANGUL LOWER BRAHMANI 5.9 634.60 740.00 831.00 452.00
9 ARMPUR LOWER MAHANADI 47.3 376.40 825.00 735.00 582.00
10 ASKA RUSHIKULYA 15.0 578.00 748.00 564.00 729.00
11 ATHAGARH LOWER MAHANADI 2.2 1216.20 1271.00 1492.00 969.00
12 ATHAMALIK LOWER MAHANADI 49.2 372.40 874.00 772.00 553.00
13 BAIKUNTHAPUR UPPER MAHANADI 21.7 476.20 518.00 845.00 461.00
14 BALASORE BURHABALANGA 42.0 653.30 678.00 1473.00 1226.00
15 BALIGUDA LOWER MAHANADI 5.0 767.40 919.00 767.00 737.00
16 BALIMELA KOLAB 33.4 1077.60 1283.00 1891.00 1679.00
17 BALIMUNDALI BURHABALANGA 31.2 671.60 604.00 1085.00 1241.00
18 BAMANDIHI UPPER MAHANADI 18.3 733.20 799.00 903.00 990.00
19 BANAPUR LOWER MAHANADI 20.4 601.20 849.00 786.00 631.00
20 BANGIRIPOSHI BURHABALANGA 40.7 349.60 402.00 555.00 813.00
21 BANGODAM UPPER MAHANADI 49.4 365.80 454.00 905.00 810.00
22 BARGAON UPPER MAHANADI 81.4 156.30 482.00 1095.00 949.00
23 BARGARH LOWER MAHANADI 34.1 561.10 816.00 959.00 780.00
24 BARIPADA BURHABALANGA 46.9 591.60 642.00 1138.00 1564.00
25 BARKOTE UPPER BRAHMANI 32.9 318.90 437.00 555.00 433.00
26 BARMUL LOWER MAHANADI 36.8 513.00 966.00 825.00 643.00
27 BASANTPUR UPPER MAHANADI 32.9 561.00 855.00 659.00 994.00
28 BELGAON LOWER MAHANADI 15.2 801.60 1171.00 899.00 767.00
29 BERHAMPUR RUSHIKULYA 28.5 409.20 641.00 537.00 540.00
30 BHANJANAGAR RUSHIKULYA 28.6 530.00 582.00 737.00 909.00
31 BHAWANIPATNA LOWER MAHANADI 34.3 637.50 1070.00 916.00 924.00
32 BHISMAGIRI RUSHIKULYA 43.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
33 BHOGRAI SUBERNAREKHA 48.5 481.40 458.00 887.00 1460.00
34 BHUBANESWAR LOWER MAHANADI 23.6 666.40 844.00 982.00 790.00
35 BIJEPUR LOWER MAHANADI 14.1 705.50 804.00 788.00 873.00
36 BINIKA LOWER MAHANADI 24.9 745.70 1319.00 805.00 854.00
37 BISAM CUTTACK VANSADHARA 31.4 556.90 826.00 759.00 849.00
38 BOLANGIR LOWER MAHANADI 66.9 364.40 1309.00 1238.00 755.00
39 BONTH BURHABALANGA 1.5 433.00 868.00 165.00 286.00
40 BORANDA UPPER MAHANADI 1.9 689.60 717.00 757.00 634.00
41 BOUDHRAJ LOWER MAHANADI 82.3 133.30 678.00 920.00 662.00
42 BURLA LOWER MAHANADI 31.1 793.60 1081.00 1496.00 880.00
5
Odisha Drought Update- Aug 22- 23, 2010
6
Odisha Drought Update- Aug 22- 23, 2010
7
Odisha Drought Update- Aug 22- 23, 2010