Deficit Rainfall Triggers Drought Fears In 27 Odisha Districts

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will take stock of an imminent drought situation at a high-level meeting on Monday.

The meeting to be presided over by Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra will review the situation in 27 districts, where deficit rainfall has triggered drought fears, and formulate an action plan.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Odisha received 30 per cent less rainfall between June 1 and August 22. As against an average 836 mm rainfall, the state had received 583 mm, it added.

Barring Malkangiri, Koraput and Nuapada districts, the remaining 27 districts recorded scanty rainfall. Keonjhar, Boudh, Angul, Jajpur, and Bhadrak districts saw a severe deficit in rainfall (shortfall of 39 to 59 per cent) during this period.

Jajpur topped the table with 54 per cent less than normal rainfall. Bhadrak witnessed 50 per cent less rain, Balangir 43 per cent, Keonjhar 42 per cent and Angul 40 per cent.

The remaining 21 districts received 25-40 per cent less rainfall.

The IMD’s fresh bulletin said there would be light to moderate rain only at a few places during the next two days, owing to a subdued monsoon system. Thereafter, thunderstorm activities would cause rain at some more places, with chances of heavy rain at isolated places.