E-Paper
Indore still rain-deficient
ABOUT 17,000 cumecs of water released from Tawa and Bargi dams this afternoon is expected to increase Narmada water level in Dhar and Barwani districts by two to three meters tomorrow morning. The sluice gates were opened today following incessant rains received in Harda and Hoshangabad region in last 24 hours.
ABOUT 17,000 cumecs of water released from Tawa and Bargi dams this afternoon is expected to increase Narmada water level in Dhar and Barwani districts by two to three meters tomorrow morning. The sluice gates were opened today following incessant rains received in Harda and Hoshangabad region in last 24 hours.
Although administrations there have taken precautionary measures, the additional volume of water is unlikely to affect the life and crops in two districts, as it is expected to drain away.
The Narmada water level at Khalghat and Rajghat was 133 and 123 meters respectively today, which is against danger mark of 135 meters. “The situation would remain normal but soyabean crop may be affected if rains continue,” Dhar district panchayat chief executive officer Navneet Kothari informed.
As for Barwani, administration has sounded alert in areas lying along the riverbanks. “But there won’t be any loss to life and crops,” District Collector Arun Tiwari said.
While Jhabua, too, will remain immune to additional flow in Narmada, the crop situation is a cause of concern. Maize, the staple diet of tribals, has been adversely affected due to rains this year. “More than 20,000 hectares of maize has been hit, though final position will only be known after harvest,” District Collector Rajkumar Pathak remarked.
As for Indore, the total rainfall received so far is 834 mm. This is against the average rainfall of 924 mm and normal rainfall of 952.2 mm. The rainfall recorded between 8.30 am to 5.30 pm today was 10.8 mm. No crop damage has been reported in the district.
Nevertheless, the rains received this monsoon resulted in heavy soil erosion especially in Rajpur development block of Barwani district. Farmers told inter-ministerial central team that visited Osada village today that they lost several acres of cultivable soil when the tank burst due to heavy rains this year. The cloud burst drained away the soil from farms and filled running wells. Likewise, Salakheda pond in Rangaon Road village that gave way due to downpour washed away fertile soil in 100 hectares owned by 53 farmers.
According to an assessment, Barwani district lost 271 hectares of fertile soil in 21 villages belonging to 408 cultivators. The agriculture department has prepared Rs 238 lakh plan to restore cultivability.
The Central team members Dr G K Chaudhary and Dina Nath held talks with officials and farmers in Manavar and Kukshi tehsil in Dhar district aside from Osada and Rangaon Road to make an on the spot assessment of the damage caused due to rains in Indore division.
