Himachal facing drought-like conditions

Himachal Pradesh on Thursday decided to request the central government for help in the face of drought-like conditions following the lowest monsoon rainfall of the past 20 years.

Himachal Pradesh on Thursday decided to request the central government for help in the face of drought-like conditions following the lowest monsoon rainfall of the past 20 years.

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"The entire hill state is passing through drought-like conditions. All the 12 districts have experienced deficient rainfall from October 2008 to July this year," an official statement said.

The state cabinet convened a special meeting and decided to request the central government to provide special grants under the drought relief measures.

Shimla's meteorological office director Manmohan Singh told IANS: "The overall monsoon situation is still precarious. Large parts continue to be deficit. The deficiency in the cumulative rainfall from June 1 till July 23 was 51 per cent in 10 districts, except Kinnaur and Sirmaur.

"This is the lowest monsoon rainfall in the state in the past 20 years. It is alarming too as more than 80 per cent of the horticulture and agricultural activities are rain-fed," the weather official said.