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Spectre of famine looms again in Rajasthan

Kamla Bora in Jaipur

The desert state of Rajasthan, which faced its severest famine in 15 years last year, is facing a similar threat this year.

With the monsoon again playing truant, the state, which is facing a severe financial crunch, is in for another bad year.

The state received only 349mm rainfall till August 31, which is 20 per cent less than normal, according to the latest report of the hydrology wing of the state's irrigation department.

Inadequate rainfall in the second fortnight of August pushed the number of districts with deficient to scanty rains from nine to 15. These districts include Ajmer, Banswara, Rajasamand, Sikar, Sirohi and Udaipur, which bore the brunt of famine last year.

The rainfall has been uneven in the other districts too which are currently in the normal rainfall category.

Most of the major tanks, dams and other reservoirs have not received enough water and many are still empty, which may cause drinking water problems next summer.

Only 23 important tanks along with 108 smaller ones were full till August 31, as against 302 last year, the report said.

Alarmed by the inadequate rains the state government has approached the Bhakra Beas Management Board to release additional water to save standing crops in the command areas of the Indira Gandhi canal and the Ganga canal.

Low rainfall in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab has resulted in the depletion of water levels in the Pong and Bhakra dams by 23 to 25 feet. This has led to lower availability of water by an average 3,000 cusecs in the Indira Gandhi canal feeder, the Bhakra canal and the Bikaner canal, according to officials of irrigation department.

The state government has also asked electricity boards to ensure adequate power to farmers to enable them to run their pumps and save their crops using ground water.

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