Half of the nation is in deep drought
We seem to have forgotten the drought situation in the wake of upcoming Lokasabha elections and the campaigning that’s happening to bolster that, the hyper nationalism and political polarization that’s happening in the country. In this backdrop, the caution sounded by scientists is highly concerning. They have stated more than 50% of India is facing severe drought like situation. This caution has its roots in all the data they collected regarding humidity, level of moisture in soil, and the details they got from Metreological Deparment to arrive at this precise and decisive conclusion. Simultaneously, they have also spoken about the plummeting ground water level as well.
Because of this extreme drought, the country will face massive drinking water problems. Even states like Arunachal have not received adequate rainfall this year. Gujarat, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamilnadu have faced serious shortfall of rain this time. As a result of that a very widespread drought situation is looming large on most parts of India. Continued shortfall of rain has left groundwater tables parched because no adequate measures have been taken to recharge them. Whether the water is needed or not people continue to extract groundwater. not just for drinking purposes groundwater is now used for agriculture as well as a result of that groundwater is going to plummet to depths.
Farmers like to grow those cash crops that bring them major financial gains. sugarcane and paddy require more water but farmers prefer growing them most times. So the irrigation schemes are not being used well. Karnataka is facing equally dire drought situation. Both seasonal rains have failed. The state is staring at major scarcity of drinking water. Over 156 taluks of 16 districts are facing problems.
Heat is getting unbearable even in the month of March. Specially Kalaburgi, Raichur, Koppal, Bagalkot, Bellary, Haveri, Vijayapura, Gadag, Uttara Kannada, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Bidar and Belagavi are already running into problems. Drinking water has become scarce. Scarcity of cattle feed is very high in North and South Karnataka regions. A spell of rain should have that has 188 mm of rainfall but we have received only 96 mm of rainfall as a result of this drought is in a very serious and threatening condition. the economical situation of the country has also run into trouble because of the drought. Small farmers and poor people are suffering the most. the caution issued by the scientists that if the measures to recharge groundwater table are not initiated, next year the situation maybe even more dire has to be taken seriously not just by the government but also by the people.
Initiating measures to deal with the drought like situation when it arrives is not adequate. Long term measures to tackle this situation can only bring better solutions. Though nature can be held responsible for the issues that we are facing today, the assault on nature in the name of industrialization is what has contributed to the threatening conditions we live in today. Air pollution, water pollution, global warming, damage to Ozone layer all these have adequately contributed to the drought we are facing today.
The situation is not any different in coastal areas like Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada. Some districts have been earmarked as drought stricken too here. Most of all the taluks in Dakshina Kannada have been declared drought stricken now. Long term solutions that can tackle the root cause of drought have to be taken up. Encroached lakes and ponds have to be freed and desilted. Encroachment of forest has to be stopped and green measures have to be taken up without delay. Rain water harvesting has to be initiated on war footing. This way, drought like situation can be dealt with in a better manner.
Not just these, other measures too are necessary to be initiated. Job guarantee and drinking water supply along with cattle feed supply have to be taken up without delay. Central government has to take all states into confidence and draw up drought relief programmes that suit their conditions. All states have to comply with the centre on this. Only then can we hope to tackle drought with some strength and planning.
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25 killed in lightning strikes, hailstorms in several districts of Bihar
Patna, Apr 10 (PTI): At least 25 people were killed in lightning strikes and hailstorms in several districts of Bihar on Thursday, officials said.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Nalanda reported 18 deaths, followed by two in Siwan, one each in Katihar, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Bhagalpur and Jehanabad.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, however, claimed in a post on X that over 50 people died on Thursday.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of more than 50 people in various incidents of storm, rain, lightning, tree and wall collapse in Bihar. I express my deepest condolences. May God provide strength to the families affected by the disaster in this hour of grief,” he wrote in Hindi.
He also said that the state government should compensate farmers for their crop loss due to the sudden rain and give them proper compensation.
Earlier, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condoled the deaths and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased.
On Wednesday, 13 people had died in lightning strikes in four districts of Bihar.
The India Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange alert’ (be prepared) for a number of districts, including Darbhanga, East Champaran, Gopalganj, West Champaran, Kishanganj, Araria, Supaul, Gaya, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Nalanda, Nawada and Patna.
It has also forecast heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday in these districts.
"Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) likely to occur at few places over Madhubani, Darbhanga, East Champaran, Gopalganj, West Champaran, Kishanganj, Araria, Supaul, Gaya, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Nalanda, Nawada, Patna," the IMD said in a bulletin.
Water-logging was also reported on Thursday from several parts of Patna following heavy rain.
The state capital recorded an average of 42.6 mm rainfall till 5.30 pm.
Officials of the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) and district administration, however, claimed that rainwater was drained out in the shortest possible time despite the downpour.
