Odisha Drought Update Vol2 Issue 3
Odisha Drought Update Vol2 Issue 3
Odisha Drought Update Vol2 Issue 3
Volume 2 Issue 3
AUGUST 25- SEPTEMBER 06, 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 ([email protected])
/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 Variations as per our analysis of IMD data ................................2
2. News (Headlines) from Odisha Media during Aug 25 –Sept 06, 2010......................2
a. Drought Situation in the State ............................................................................................... 2
b. Drought Affected Areas ....................................................................................................... 2
c. Impact on Agriculture ......................................................................................................... 3
d. Response of the State/Central Govt ........................................................................................ 3
3. Selected News from Local English Media (25-06 Aug, Sept).................................3
a. Truant monsoon sparks drought scare ...................................................................................... 3
b. Scanty rains trigger drought fears in Orissa ................................................................................ 4
c. Deficit rainfall in 12 Districts ................................................................................................ 4
d. Hit by patchy monsoon, Orissa may seek help............................................................................. 5
e. Cry for drought tag to 17 blocks grows shriller ............................................................................ 5
Annexure I : Details of Rainfall received during Monsoon Season at 191 gauging stations of Water
Resources Department in 9 river basins ..............................................................6
- 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
[email protected]
Baitarani Initiative (Odisha State Center, Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India) and Odisha Water Forum
1
Odisha Drought Update
Aug-25 to Sept -06, 2010
An analysis of the cumulative rainfall data available in the website of Water Resources
department (from IMD) over 192 gauging sites in 9 River basins of Odisha till 7th September 2010
shows (detail table in Annexure I)
o 135 (70%) of 192 sites have less than 10% of rainfall this year than the average of last 3
years which include 76 of 103 sites in the Mahanadi Basin alone
o 104 (54%) of 192 sites have less than 20% of rainfall this year than the average of last 3
years which include 55 of 103 sites in the Mahanadi Basin alone
o 21 (11%) of 192 sites having less than 50% rainfall this year than the average of last 3 years
which include 9 of 103 sites in the Mahanadi Basin alone
o There are also 25 sites which has received more rainfall this year than the average of last 3
years, out of which 12 sites are in the Mahanadi Basin
2. News (Headlines) from Odisha Media2 during Aug 25 –Sept 06, 2010
1
Detail and scientific drought analysis requires analysis of daily rainfall data and dry spells in relation to
critical stages of crops. This analysis merely presents a deviation of rainfall with respect to last 3 years
average.
2
The Samaj, The Sambad, The Dharitri, The Pragatibadi, The Khabar & The New Indian Express; all
Bhubaneswar Edition
Baitarani Initiative (Odisha State Center, Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India) and Odisha Water Forum
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Odisha Drought Update
Aug-25 to Sept -06, 2010
c. Impact on Agriculture
o Scanty rainfall worries farmers of Dhenkanal(The Dharitri-01.09.2010)
o Water scarcity for Agriculture: Farmers worried (The Sambad-04.09.2010)
o Scanty rain leads to failure of agricultural in the state (The Samaja-03.09.2010)
o Kharif operation has been affected in 15 districts due to deficient rainfall(The Indian Express-
03.09.2010)
o Disturbed Monsoon leads to agricultural loss in 15 districts(Pragatibadi,Khabara-03.09.2010)
o No water for Kharif crop: 15 districts of Odisha affected a lot(The Dharitri-03.09.2010)
o No water for Kharif crop due to scanty rainfall(The Samaja-02.09.2010)
o Scanty rainfall leads to water scarcity for irrigation(The Dharitri-27.08.2010)
o Agricultural loss in the Nishintakoili block due to scanty rainfall(The Pragatibadi-29.08.2010)
Bhubaneswar, Sept. 4: Deficient monsoon has triggered drought fears in the state. Though rainfall has been
deficient in almost 15 of the state’s 30 districts, the situation is particularly bad in tribal-dominated
Mayurbhanj and Sundergarh, where several blocks have experienced less than 50 per cent rainfall.
“With no rain in our area, my paddy crop is wilting,” said Bishnu Purty, a farmer from Duvia under
Mayurbhanj’s Baripada block. In the neighbouring village, farmer Akul Chandra Dehuri faces the same
situation.
Agriculture minister Damodar Rout pegged the overall rainfall deficiency at around 21 per cent. Though the
minister refused to call it a drought-like situation, he conceded that agricultural operations in certain
areas had been hit.
Orissa on an average receives 1,482mm of rainfall annually, around 78 per cent of this coming between the
monsoon months of June and September. Rout said while 27,561 hectares could not be farmed due to
erratic monsoon in Mayurbhanj district, paddy sowing could not take place is 2-3 blocks of Sundergarh. “In
certain areas, standing crop has also been hit but we will know the exact extent of the loss only after
3
Bhubaneswar Editions of The Pioneer, The Times of India & The New Indian Express
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Odisha Drought Update
Aug-25 to Sept -06, 2010
getting the crop-cutting report in November,” said Rout.Official sources said the areas reporting less than
50 per cent crop would be declared drought-affected. “We had planned to disburse Rs.1,600 crore as loan
and have already achieved around 90 per cent of the target,” he said.
In Orissa, paddy is being cultivated on 29 lakh hectares and 1-2lakh hectares have been hit by the dry spell.
Revenue and disaster management minister Surya Narayan Patro described the rainfall as both deficient
and erratic. He added that at least 41 blocks had registered less than 50 per cent rainfall.To protect
farmers, the government would ask power distribution companies to refrain from disconnecting supply to
lift irrigation points in the rain-deficient areas.
Rout blamed the increasing loss of forest cover for the changing behaviour of the monsoon. “The heavy loss
of forests in Daspalla, Ranpur, Nayagarh and Similipal has led to this scenario,” the minister explained.
Rout said the situation has forced the government to think in terms of changing the cropping pattern in the
hilly areas where irrigation is a problem. The government plans to experiment with cash crops, mainly
horticulture crops which require less water, in these areas.
“In fact, we have already made a beginning in areas such as Kalahandi, which used to be drought-prone. At
present, around 36,000 hectares in the district is under cotton cultivation, while maize is grown on another
27,500 hectare. Maize too does not require much water,” said Rout. Maize cultivation has also been taken
up in other highland districts such as Bolangir and Kandhmal.
The state has also been grappling with problems such as soil acidity and depleting moisture content. Rout
said: “We will have experts looking into all these
http://sify.com/finance/scanty-rains-trigger-drought-fears-in-orissa-news-default-kjcwacdehaa.html
Sept 2, 2010
Poor monsoon rains have triggered drought fears in half of Orissa, an official said Thursday. 'At least 15 of
state's 30 districts have recorded less then normal (averagge) rains,' a senior official of the state
agriculture department told IANS. Paddy and other kharif crops are likely to be the worst affected in the
tribal populated districts of Sundergarh and Mayurbhanj, he said. A good monsoon is crucial for this eastern
state which contributes almost one-tenth of India's rice production. Last year, 3,264 villages in 15 of the
state's 30 districts faced a drought due to a scanty monsoon and erratic rains. 'The state had received rains
21 per cent below normal (average) by the end of August, as a result of which the threat of drought is
looming in several districts', he said. The other districts which received less rains included Jajpur, Angul,
Deogarh, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Subarnapur, and Kendrapada, he said.
http://hindu.com/2010/08/25/stories/2010082557530300.htm
Aug 25,2010
BHUBANESWAR: Farmers in the State seem to be staring at certain drought with monsoon continuing to play
truant. Though the Agriculture department put up a brave face saying the kharif crop could be saved at
this point, the situation would really go out of control if dry spell continued for another week. The State
seems to be at a critical juncture. On Tuesday, shortfall in rainfall in the State stood at 19 per cent,
technically 1 per cent less than the deficit tag which is 20 per cent or above. As against normal district
average rainfall of 847.4 mm by Tuesday, the State received 690.4 mm average rainfall. “According to
rainfall records, 15 districts have received normal rainfall, 12 districts could be categorised under deficit,
but in three districts remarkable deficit variation in rainfall has been noticed,” said R. S. Gopalan, director
Baitarani Initiative (Odisha State Center, Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India) and Odisha Water Forum
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Odisha Drought Update
Aug-25 to Sept -06, 2010
of agriculture, here. Met department sources said Sambalpur received 50 per cent less rainfall this year
and it was followed by Kendrapara with 46 per cent. Other districts where big deviation was observed
include Mayurbhanj (- 45 per cent), Deogarh (- 45 per cent), Angul (-40 per cent) and Jagatsinghpur (-24
per cent). Director of Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre S. C. Sahu said the situation could improve
around August 29 when there were indications that some system could form. Drizzles could take place
under influence of a low pressure area over Andhra Pradesh coast at many places in Orissa during next
couple of days, he said. “We have prepared a contingency plan in which different scenarios have been
envisioned and remedies have also been prescribed. District level agriculture officers have been asked to
modify the contingency plan to suit their local needs,” Mr. Gopalan said. In view of low rainfall, the
agriculture department was anticipating that farmers might shift from paddy crop to pulses. “We have
intimated Seed Corporation to arrange for additional stocks of seed for this purpose,” said the agriculture
director. Senior agriculture officers are of the view that farmers might not suffer huge blow due to dry
spell. Transplantation was about to begin, they said. “Had transplantation work been over, then the
situation could have sounded alarming,” officials said.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/hit-by-patchy-monsoon-orissa-may-seek-help/405879/
Aug 26,2010
The rain god is certainly not smiling on the eastern states. After West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand — all of
them have been hit by deficient rainfall — Orissa is also contemplating to seek drought assistance from the
central government if monsoon rains do not return within the next seven days. As many as 41 blocks in
affected districts like Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Deogarh have been facing a rainfall deficit of 50 to 80 per
cent, and the situation is likely to worsen if the state does not receive normal rains soon.
“We would watch the situation for around seven days. If the state does not receive normal monsoon
rainfall by that time, we will be forced to approach the Centre for drought assistance. West Bengal, Bihar
and Jharkhand have been hit by deficient rainfall and have already approached the Centre for drought
assistance,” said S N Patra, the state minister for revenue and disaster management. The minister stated
that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had called a review meeting on August 18 on the possibility of a
drought-like situation in the state. The state has received 36 per cent less rains in June, 14 per cent in July
and around two per cent till August 16. However, the deficiency has been 20 per cent in 11 districts till
August 16. Patnaik has instructed state Agriculture Secretary U P Singh to form a task force to review the
impact of the deficient rainfall on the kharif crops in the state. The task force is required to file a report
every week in this connection. The state has so far received monsoon rainfall only induced by low pressure.
Only 91 blocks in coastal districts like Cuttack, Khurda and Ganjam have recorded more than normal
rainfall in the months of June, July and August. Though there have been no official reports of crop damage
and sowing as well as transplantation operations have been normal during this kharif season, the erratic
monsoon is likely to cause damage to the standing paddy crops. Due to deficient monsoon rains, the
reservoir levels have plunged, resulting in inadequate supply of water for irrigated lands. While the
situation is not affecting large irrigation projects, the medium and small ones do not have adequate water
and to tackle the situation, it has been decided to run more and more lift irrigation points.
http://expressbuzz.com/states/orissa/cry-for-drought-tag-to-17-blocks-grows-shriller/203591.html
Sept 3, 2010
ROURKELA: With monsoon playing truant and paddy crops in half of the total 17 blocks in Sundargarh
district showing signs of damage, the demand for drought tag is gaining ground. Sources said following low
rainfall during June and July, the farmers had pinned all hopes on August to salvage the situation.
However, in August the district recorded a paltry 253 mm rainfall against the normal 393.9 mm. Moreover,
the distribution of rainfall has been erratic. Under present circumstances, the beleaguered farmers want
Baitarani Initiative (Odisha State Center, Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India) and Odisha Water Forum
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Odisha Drought Update
Aug-25 to Sept -06, 2010
the affected areas declared drought hit. It is learnt that Bisra and Nuagaon blocks with 182 mm and 125
mm respectively are the worst hit where prospects of crop loss look imminent. Four gram panchayats of
Tangarpali block including Mangaspur, Nidhipali, Remanda and Jogimal have joined the chorus for drought
tag. Farmer leader Rabi Patel pressed for immediate declaration of Tangapali block as drought hit.
Similarly, a delegation of BJP has demanded the State Government to bail out the farmers in Bargaon
block, which received 170 mm in August. Though Lathikata block received 414 mm rain in August after
going completely dry in June and July, the distribution has visibly worried the farmers in Birda, Birkera,
Balanda, Jhartarang, Garjan, Badadalki and Ramjodi GPs. The farmers have been spending sleepless nights
fearing crop loss. Lefripara block also received scanty rainfall. Barring six gram panchayats, Lahunipara
block is faced with the imminent crop loss. Kuanrmunda block seems to be another major victim of deficit
rainfall with 184 mm in August with Salangabahal, Andhari, Kadobahal, Kacharu, Kolosihiria, Puturikhaman
and Kuanrmunda gram panchayats being the worst hit.
Annexure I : Details of Rainfall received during Monsoon Season at 191 gauging stations of
Water Resources Department in 9 river basins
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Odisha Drought Update
Aug-25 to Sept -06, 2010
MADANPUR
115 RAMPUR LOWER MAHANADI 12.3 961.60 1,441.00 1,087.00 761.00
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