District experiences 48.8% deficit rainfall so far, crop withering
56 mandals in the district are likely tobe declared as drought-hit very soon due to less rainfall
Ongole: All the 56 mandals in the district are likely tobe declared as drought-hit very soon. The district administration sent a report to the government requesting that the district be declared as drought-hit as it received 48.03 per cent less rainfall during this season. While normal rainfall by the end of October is 630.4 mm, the district has received 322.9 mm rainfall so far.
District chief planning officer P.B.K. Murthy said, “Till now the district has received 48.8 per cent less rainfall. Based on this, the district administration requested the government to declare the entire district as drought-hit.” Deputy director of ground water department M. Naga Malleswara Rao said, “Due to deficit rainfall, ground water tables in Kanigiri, Singarayakonda areas are depleting. In Markapuram, ground water tables fell to 10.62 metre, during the same period last year ground water was available at 6.35 metres. Similarly, in Karalapadu mandal, ground water tables fell to 39.01 metre from 11.084 metres during the last year due to deficit rainfall.”
Joint director of agriculture Dr.J. Murali Krishna said said crops like red gram, cotton, green gram, black gram and tobacco are getting damaged due to deficit rainfall, depleting ground water tables and adverse seasonal conditions.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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