Farmers worried as monsoon takes a rain check

VARANASI: Though monsoon reached the region on scheduled time, it lost momentum after a good initial start. For the first five days it rained heavily, but for the past six days no rainfall has taken place. This break in monsoon has increased the worries of farmers, who fear their crops may suffer for want of irrigation. However, officials concerned are still hopeful of a good rainfall in the coming weeks.
It is worth mentioning here that the farmers of east UP region suffered due to poor monsoon from 2002 to 2007. Good rainfall in 2008 healed the wounds of farmers but betrayal of rains caused severe losses in 2009. In 2010, the monsoon was normal in the region. Timely beginning of monsoon this year encouraged farmers to go for early sowing of the paddy crop and they started developing their paddy nurseries since June 15 as soon as the monsoon became active in the region.
On an average, 108 mm rainfall is recorded in the month of June in Varanasi. The monsoon hit this region on June 17 and by June 21, over 135 mm rainfall had been recorded in the region. The temperature also became favourable for an ideal growth of paddy nurseries. But, a break in monsoon for the past six days, is increasing the worries of farmers. "If monsoon does not become active (in the region) within a fortnight, farmers would have to depend on canals and tubewells for irrigation to save their crops," said Gopal Singh, a farmer from Chandauli.
When the irrigation departments chief engineer, Sone Zone office, was contacted to know the availability of water in reservoirs that charged the canals in the region, it came to light that despite more than average rainfall in this month, the stock of water in reservoirs was not sufficient to fulfil actual requirement. According to the records of this office, over three lakh hectares of field area depends on the huge network of the canals for irrigation for both 'rabi' and 'kharif' crops. But, despite good rainfall in the initial phase of the monsoon this year, none of these canals have sufficient stock of water to keep the dams and reservoirs operational.
The latest report on the status of water in these reservoirs and dams made available by this office reveals that the Bhaisoda, Naugarh, Musakhad and Latifshah has water stock for seven days only while Chandraprabha and Muzaffarpur has water stock for one-and-a-half days only. The Nagwa dam has water for 22 days while Ghaghraul has water sufficient for three days. Apart from it the Meja, Ahraura and Jargo dams has water for three to 18 days. Other dams and reservoirs including Upper Khajuri, Ghori, Sirsi, Adwa, Sukhra and Dongia have no stock of water for irrigation purpose.
The irrigation department officials say except for those dams where water stock is available for more than 10 days, water available in other reservoirs is termed as 'dead stock', which cannot be released in canals for irrigation. This water is kept reserved for the consumption of villagers and their animals. This condition of the main sources of irrigation for the seven districts, viz Chandauli, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Sonebhadra, Bhadohi, Ghazipur and southern-Yamuna region of Allahabad, is a clear hint that if the monsoon does not become active again on time, irrigating fields would definitely become an impossible task.
'Too early to predict poor rains'
Divisional commissioner AK Upadhyaya said break in monsoon was not a serious cause of concern.
When TOI contacted him on Sunday to find out about the measures being initiated to meet a crisis situation in case of poor monsoon, he said: "Against the figures of average rainfall, good rainfall has already taken place in the month of June. It is too early to predict that this break is a sign of poor rain in the coming months." He said the reports stated that the monsoon could become normal in the coming weeks.
He said the annual target for the irrigation department had already been set. He said last year, the irrigation department had succeeded in ensuring that water reached up to tail of canal but the facts could not be denied that complaints for less availability of water in canals were made from several areas. He said the irrigation department had already been alerted to make all preparations to meet a crisis, if it occurred.