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States put on alert
Highlights
With the Met office indicating a below normal rainfall across the country in the coming monsoon season, the Centre has asked the states to make preparations to deal with the situation and take up works under the rural job scheme MNREGA.
Ready for El Nino
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New Delhi: With the Met office indicating a below normal rainfall across the country in the coming monsoon season, the Centre has asked the states to make preparations to deal with the situation and take up works under the rural job scheme MNREGA. In an advisory to states, including Kerala, the gateway to monsoon in the country, Rural Development Ministry has said maximum works might be undertaken under MNREGA for effective harvesting of rain water. The government said it has put in place a contingency plan for 580 districts to tackle any situation arising out of below-normal monsoon.
"The latest forecast by Indian Meteorological Department indicates that rains could be below average during the coming monsoon season due to an impact of El Nino weather pattern, which can bring a dry spell in the region," warns the Ministry in its advisory.
Preparing for below-average rains, the states have been asked to take up maximum number of works, renovation of traditional water bodies including de-silting of irrigation tanks and ponds, micro and minor irrigation works and creation, renovation and maintenance of irrigation canals and drains.
The other works permitted under MNREGA to tackle the situation include water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment and improve ground-water situation like underground dykes, earthen dams, stop dams and check dams and drought proofing works such as avenue plantation, development of barren/fallow lands and nursery raising.
In order to minimise the adverse effects of anticipated drought, states have been asked to ensure that the "works as above may be taken up under MNREGA during the next three-four months." The timely onset of south-west monsoon is crucial for sowing of kharif (summer) crops like paddy and a deficit in rainfall may hit the rice output. Last year, the country had received 12 per cent less rains, which hit production of grains, cotton and oilseeds.
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