Ranchi: AJSU supremo Sudesh Kumar Mahto has written a letter to Chief Minister Raghubar Das demanding that a high level review meeting should be held over the clouds of drought which was looming large over the state due to deficient rainfall and also urged to organise a special debate over the issue during the Monsoon Session of the Assembly.
He said that this year Monsoon came into Jharkhand by a delay of 12 days and the data available so far indicates that less than 40 per cent of the average rainfall has taken place in the state. He said that against an average rainfall of 339.4 mm only 237.7 mm of rainfall has taken place.
Mr Mahto said that during his travel across the state he is listening to the sadness prevailing among the farmers and farm labourers and only sowing has taken place on 20 per cent of area despite the fact that the month of July is coming to an end and the paddy saplings are drying due to lack of water.
He said that a big area is staring droughts in the state and in the hilly region the situation is more alarming. Mr Mahto said that despite progress being made in the area of irrigation much is still desired to tackle such situations as every year 1200-1300 mm of rainfall goes waste.
Mr Mahto said that every year the drought influence is increasing in the state and even last year 129 blocks were declared drought hit. He said that due to stagnation in agriculture work employment opportunities are decreasing and despite the economic aid under Kissan Samman Nidhi Yojana the farmers are helpless due to lack of water.