Union Govt. Advisory To States To Make Preparations To Deal With Possible Lower Monsoon

13 May, New Delhi

The Centre has asked the states to make preparations to deal with lower monsoon rainfall situation and take up works under the rural job scheme Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, MNREGA.
The advisory came as the MeT office has indicated a below normal rainfall across the country in the coming monsoon season due to an impact of El Nino weather pattern. Monsoon is expected to arrive on time this year, hitting Kerala on June 1st.

In the advisory to states, the Rural Development Ministry has said maximum works might be undertaken under MNREGA for effective harvesting of rain water.
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 crops like paddy and a deficit in rainfall may hit the rice output.

Last year, the country had received 12 per cent less rainfall, which hit production of grains, cotton and oil seeds. After a poor monsoon in 2014, the untimely rain during March-April this year have already put farmers in distress and there have been quite a few cases of farmer suicides.