Memorandum to the Central Government Seeking Assistance for Combating Drought in Bihar 2013

Transcription

1 Memorandum to the Central Government Seeking Assistance for Combating Drought in Bihar 2013 Arwa l DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT, GOVERNMENT OF BIHAR 1

2 Preface This year Bihar has been severely affected by twin calamities of floods and drought. 20 districts have been affected by floods, 12 of them by river Ganga due to unprecedented rains in Uttarakhand and the remaining eight by rivers coming in to North Bihar from Nepal. About 66 lakh persons in these 20 districts have been affected. However, as a result of huge deficit in rainfall, especially during the sowing season of paddy, Bihar is in the grip of severe drought this year. The rainfall deficit has been caused chiefly due to the monsoon trough leaning towards Orisa/Chhatisgarh during most days of the rainy season this year. The trough usually passes through Bihar for the days during normal monsoon season, but its passage through Bihar this year has only been for 15 days or so. As a consequence of the huge rainfall and related factors, we have declared 33 out of our 38 districts as drought affected. Bihar is facing its third drought in 2013 within a span of 4 years: we faced drought in 2009 and 2010 as well as a bad monsoon last year. The state is traditionally flood-prone so this year s flood in 20 districts compounded by successive widespread drought in 33 districts has magnified the adverse impact. This is particularly so in the background of the series of natural disasters over the last seven years which have brought untold miseries to the people 2007 witnessed severe floods in 22 districts of the State affecting 2.5 crore people; in 2008, the breach of the Kosi embankment at Kusaha (Nepal) caused unprecedented devastation in vast swathes of 5 districts of Kosi and Purnea divisions. Hon ble Prime Minister termed this a national calamity. 13 other districts were also affected by floods that year. In 2009, along with many other states, Bihar faced severe drought in 26 out of 38 districts. In 2010 nature was extremely harsh on us as we faced severe cyclonic storms in April killing more than a hundred people and causing huge losses to property and livestock and later on all 38 districts were affected by drought. This year apart from the severe drought in 33 out of 38 districts, the situation in the remaining 5 districts is causing concern and we are closely monitoring the situation there. Around 1.96 crore families have been adversely affected by drought in these 33 districts with the overall rainfall shortage of 37 percent during the sowing season of paddy. Whatever paddy plantation has taken place, it is wilting due to the continuing long dry spell and with no rain in sight. If the situation of dry spell persists and no rainfall occurs in the near future, we will also have to declare the remaining 5 districts as drought affected soon. Rainfall and crop coverage have been continuously monitored since the start of the monsoon season by the Crisis Management Group (CMG), the State Executive Committee (SEC) and the Government. Reports were received from District Magistrates on prevailing ground realities. After careful examination of rainfall data, crop coverage/crop condition, inputs from the local IMD officials, reports of the concerned District Magistrates and on the basis of in-depth reviews in the meetings of the CMG and SEC, on 17 th September 2013 the Government of Bihar declared 33 out of 38 districts as drought affected, and decided to constantly monitor the situation in 2

3 the remaining 05 districts. In case the situation in these 05 districts worsens, they may also be declared drought hit. Around one crore ninty six lakh families have been badly affected in these 33 districts. The State Government has already suspended collection of land revenue, irrigation dues, co-operative loans and electricity dues related to agriculture. In addition to this, massive relief operations are required in these districts. This Memorandum seeking assistance from the Central Government for combating drought has been prepared keeping in view the SDRF/ NDRF guidelines. It is hoped that the Central Government will expeditiously sanction crore of financial assistance together with an additional allocation of 45,005 KL of Kerosene and also other assistance as requested in the Memorandum. (Ashok Kumar Sinha) Chief Secretary Government of Bihar 3

4 INDEX Sl. No. Subject Page No. Preface 2 1 Overview 5 2 Indicators mentioned in the Crisis 13 Management Plan (CMP), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India and the Drought Situation in Bihar 3 Steps taken by State Government so far 14 4 Declaration of Drought 17 5 Steps taken/to be taken in the drought 20 affected districts 6 Assistance Sought from Centre 22 I Agriculture 22 II Water Resources 23 III Minor Water Resources 23 IV Drinking Water Sector 25 V Food Grains 26 VI Kerosene Oil 27 VII Livestock Sector 27 VIII Employment Sector 29 IX Energy Sector 29 X Health Sector 30 XI Bank Loan 30 Summary of Assistance 31 Annexure

5 1. Overview Bihar is facing a serious drought arising out of huge rainfall deficit during the 2013 South West Monsoon season. The behaviour of monsoon has been very erratic and irregular this year. Though during June, the data shows an excess of 5% over the normal rainfall, there was huge rainfall deficit in 20 districts ranging from 9% to 85%, in the 18 districts out of which the deficit being 20% and beyond. The situation worsened in the kharif sowing season of July-August when the rainfall deficit in July was 45% and in August it was 27%; average deficit for the showing season being 37% with no or very scanty rainfall in September in most parts of the State. The rainfall deficit has been caused chiefly due to the monsoon trough leaning towards Orisa/Chhatisgarh during most days of the rainy season this year. The trough usually passes through Bihar for the days during normal monsoon season, but its passage through Bihar this year has only been for 15 days or so. The State Government has declared 33 out of a total of 38 districts in the state as drought affected and started relief measures. The situation in the remaining 05 districts is also being monitored continuously and some of these districts may also be declared drought hit if the situation in these districts worsens. The State Government has been keeping a close watch on the situation since the start of the season and has been monitoring the rainfall pattern and the crop coverage. A Crisis Management Group (CMG) comprising Secretaries/ Principal Secretaries of different line departments under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary continuously reviews and monitors the situation. Similarly, a Task Force has been constituted at the district level to review and monitor the situation at the district and lower levels. Ministers and Departmental Secretaries are also reviewing and monitoring the situation in their departments. In addition to the Divisional Commissioners who have been directed to supervise relief operations in the districts under their divisions, Secretaries/ Principal Secretaries have been assigned districts for close monitoring and guidance and to oversee relief work in the drought affected districts. The Chief Minister personally monitors the situation with the members of CMG, Departmental heads concerned, Ministers and others. The actual rainfall recorded during the current agriculture season from 1 st June to 11 th September, 2013 is mm against a normal mm, showing a deficit of 25%. However, a closer analysis of the rainfall data, shows that the whole state has suffered on account of scanty rainfall during paddy sowing months of July and August. Bihar grows paddy as its chief kharif crop. For plantation of paddy, sufficient rains during months of July and August are required. In the month of July the rainfall was 189 mm against normal 343 mm showing a deficit of 45% whereas it was 213 mm against a normal 291 mm in August showing 27% deficit rainfall. During July and 5

6 August, the overall rainfall deficit was 37% with 33 districts having rainfall deficit of more than 20%. Out of these 33 districts, 20 districts lie north of Ganges and 13 are in the south of Ganges. In these 19 districts lying north of Ganges the situation is worst in Madhubani which shows a whopping rainfall deficit of 70% during the sowing season. Out of the 14 districts lying south of Ganges, Lakhisarai and Gaya have a huge rainfall deficit of 59% during the sowing season closely followed by Patna(58%),Bhojpur(50%) and Nawada(49%). In addition to the shortfall in the rainfall, the severity of the summer heat this year and no rain or very scanty rainfall in September in most parts of the state has further worsened the situation. The following charts/tables show the extent of deficit in the rainfall during peak sowing season of the kharif crops (paddy and maize) i.e, between 1 st July to 31 th August, 2013 and upto 11 th September in the whole State ( Source: IMD): Figure 1: Normal and actual rainfall in Bihar during July + August Table 1: Week-wise Rainfall during the sowing period Kharif 2013 Week Ended Actual (in mm) Normal (in mm) Deficit (%)

7 Figure 2: Week-wise normal and actual rainfall during sowing season Table 2: Month-wise Rainfall during Kharif 2013 Month Actual (in MM) Normal (in MM) Excess/Deficit (%) June July August June 2013 to 11 September

8 Figure 3: Month-wise actual & normal rainfall The deficit in rainfall has affected almost all sectors. Since we were monitoring the rainfall pattern very closely, the Government at the very early stage recognised that if immediate steps were not taken to speed up paddy plantation through other means, the impact of rainfall deficit in the agriculture sector would cripple our economy. So Government sanctioned diesel subsidy for raising paddy seedlings and three irrigations of kharif crop which was later extended to the fourth irrigation. The Crisis Management Group ensured through the Departments of Water Resources and Minor Water Resources that water is reached to the parched lands and that on time of the transplantation through our canal system and network of state tubewells. We also pressed our Energy Department to ensure availability of electricity for at least 8 hours in the rural area for agriculture purposes. The Agriculture Department deputed its scientists and extension workers in the villages to motivate and guide the farming community for making use of the Government measures and sowing maize and other alternative crops where paddy plantation was rendered unproductive due to the erratic and irregular monsoon. The tenacious farming community of Bihar also rose to the occasion as they have learnt lessons from the drought of 2009 and 2010 and bad monsoon in As a consequence of all these measures of the Government, close monitoring by the CMG and perseverance and toil of the farming community, the paddy transplantation showed a rising trend over the weeks. However, the paddy transplantation continued very late in the season and with no or very scanty rainfall in September and scorching heat, the transplanted paddy has started wilting. In such circumstances whatever transplantation has taken place it would not fetch enough yield to the farming community and the state would suffer heavily in the paddy production this year. The timing and duration of the monsoon failure which 8

9 corresponded with the sowing and transplantation season of the main kharif crop paddy would compound the grim scenario Bihar is facing on account of successive droughts in 2009 & 2010 and floods almost every year during the past seven years; this year s floods in the 20 districts has further worsened the situation. The IMD though has not announced withdrawal of monsoon from Bihar, but the fact that the passage of monsoon trough through Bihar having been for so fewer days this season and very little or no rains in September in most parts of the state indicates that the phenomena of midseason withdrawal of monsoon from Bihar has virtually occurred. All these conditions make us to believe that worst drought has set in Bihar this year and agriculture would take very severe beating and its people would face miseries if suitable steps to mitigate the impact of drought are not taken on urgent basis. The deficient or no rainfall situation throughout the state has adversely affected normal agriculture operations. Both the irrigated and rain fed areas have suffered substantially due to this unexpected situation. The situation has been more calamitous mainly because it has occurred in the crucial months of July & August; it has hit those districts of the state having most potential for paddy. As per the figures available with State Agriculture Department, the main paddy crop coverage till 11 th September, 2013 in the state had been only 30,04,621 ha against the target of 34,00,000 ha, showing an overall shortfall of 11.63%. If it does not rain sufficiently during the next few weeks in the months of September/october, this transplanted paddy may further wilt or if saved may give very little yields for want of water and lead to complete devastation of agriculture production in most of the districts. With no rains in September and due to acute heat, the soil moisture will dry up shortly which will cause adverse impact on rabi cultivation as well. In such a situation if sufficient winter rains do not occur, the state has to allocate huge resources in the form of diesel subsidy etc for rabi cultivation. The district wise percentage of paddy coverage and rainfall deficit is given in Table 3 below. Table 4 shows the crop coverage (paddy and maize) till

10 Table 3: Rainfall deficit & paddy coverage S. No District Rainfall deficit in June2013 (%) Rainfall deficit in July 2013 (%) Rainfall deficit in August 2013 (%) Rainfall deficit from 1 st June to 11 September 2013 (%) Coverage of Paddy (%) (upto ) 1 Vaishali Lakhisarai Sitamarhi Sheikhpura Sheohar Gaya Nawada Muzaffarpur Samastipur Buxar Saran Begusarai Madhubani Gopalganj Khagaria Kaimur Patna Darbhanga Saharsa Aurangabad Bhojpur Nalanda Jehanabad E.Champaran Jamui Munger Bhagalpur Purnia Katihar W.Champaran Siwan Madhepura Rohtas Arwal Supaul Banka Araria Kishanganj Total/Avg

11 Table 4: Status of Crop Coverage till (area in Hectares) S. No. Name of District Paddy Maize Target Coverage Coverage (%) Target Coverage Coverage (%) 1 Sheikhpura Gaya Samastipur Aurangabad Lakhisarai Nawada Nalanda Jamui Madhubani Begusarai Jahanabad Banka Buxar Vaishali Muzaffarpur Arwal Bhojpur Siwan Khagariya Bhagalpur Saran Munger Araria W.champaran Gopalganj Sitamadhi Darbhanga Patna Katihar E.champaran Rohtas Sharsha Supual Madhepura Kishanganj Purnia Kaimur Sheohar Total

12 Due to huge rainfall deficit during the sowing season, late transplantation of paddy, acute summer heat, wilting of crops and virtual midseason withdrawal of monsoon (since September witnessed very little or no rain), the total estimated crop damage in the drought affected 33 districts during kharif 2013 is 12, 58,974 hectares for paddy transplanted and 2, 22,579.5 hectares for maize totalling to 14,81,554 hectares. A detailed district wise statement of crop damage is at Annex 1. ` The estimated loss of production of rice due to the deficient monsoon in these 33 drought affected districts would be 36,18,230 MT. A detailed district wise statement of rice production loss is at Annex 2. The estimated loss of production of maize would be 5,08,083 MT. A detailed district wise statement is at Annex 3. The monsoon failure has not only pushed both farmers and the agriculture labourers to the brink of despair with agricultural activity slowing down drastically leading to their impoverishment, but it has also affected other important sectors like livestock, drinking water, health, employment and food. Paddy is as important a cereal crop providing food to the millions of people as it is for the animals providing them the bulk of dry fodder as paddy straw. With loss in the kharif production there will be heavy shortfall in the production of paddy straw causing serious problem to cattlerearing farmers. This shortage/ failure in the rainfall will certainly cause shortage of feed & fodder and drinking water for the animals in near future. This may also cause several diseases in the cattle and loss in milk production. Due to acute heat and no rains now, it is most likely that the surface and ground water level in different regions of the State would decline drastically in the days to come. The normal water table at most of the places would also decline and surface water resources like ponds and ahars (traditional water storage structures particularly in southern parts of the State) would dry up. As a consequence thereof, large number of hand pumps in different areas would become non functional creating unprecedented shortage of drinking water in near future. This estimation is based on the experience of the severe drinking water crisis the state had to face in January 2011 due to drought I 2010 kharif season. So if no sufficient winter rains occur, the state is most likely to face severe crisis of drinking water. The shortage of water may also lead to various health problems and diseases among the human beings turning the situation more severe. 12

13 The absence of work avenues for the agriculture labour in the rural areas may cause their migration to other states which would eventually lead to deterioration in the quality of life of the work force and the state may face shortage of labour during rabi cultivation. 2. Indicators mentioned in the Crisis Management Plan (CMP), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India and the Drought Situation in Bihar As stated in the previous paragraphs, the overall situation of deficit in the rainfall and paddy transplantation in the State is really very severe and may be devastating if it does not rain sufficiently in the near future and steps are not initiated to meet the challenges. As per the indicators in the Crisis Management Plan (CMP), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, for monitoring drought, the situation in Bihar has passed the Warning phase and entered the Emergency Stage. The Indicators and the real situation of the State vis a vis the indicators is shown in the following Table 5: in Bihar Table 5: Drought indicators of Ministry of Agriculture and situation WARNING INDICATORS Delayed in onset of monsoon. Deficit Rainfall for more than two weeks. Acute water crisis. (May-Mid July) (Rainfall is less than the normal rainfall and below-19% and the deficit continues for more than 3-6 weeks & Soil moisture, GW & SW level is lower than previous normal average) SITUATION IN BIHAR SW Monsoon delayed July end rainfall deficit is 45% August end rainfall deficit 27% EMERGENCY INDICATORS Deficit or no rainfall during the sowing period. Mid season withdrawal of monsoon. Dry spell for more than 4 weeks Deficit rainfall in the range of -20% to -40%. Wilting of Crops due to shortage of water and continuing heat wave conditions. (Jul-Aug) (Rainfall is less than the normal rainfall and below -25% and the deficit continue for more than -6 weeks & Soil moisture, GW & SW level is alarmingly low). SITUATION IN BIHAR The sowing season for kharif suffered due to deficit rainfall Virtual withdrawal of monsoon in September Long dry spells during sowing season and no rains in September July end rainfall deficit 45% and August end rainfall deficit 27% Rain shortfall < 20 % - 33 districts Deficit rainfall in the range of 20 to 40 % - 13 districts Rain shortfall 40 % and above- 20 districts. Crops are wilting due to acute heat and no rains in sight 13

14 If situation continues the transplanted crops will further wilt The State has entered the emergency phase 3. Steps taken by the State Government so far The State Government has been keeping a close watch on the situation right from the beginning, especially the rainfall pattern and the crop coverage. The Crisis Management Group (CMG) comprising Secretaries/ Principal Secretaries of different line departments under the chairmanship of the State Chief Secretary is continuously reviewing and monitoring the situation regularly. District Task Forces have been constituted under chairmanship of respective District Magistrates to review and monitor the situation at district and lower levels. Review and monitoring of the situation is also being done by Ministers & Departmental Secretaries at department and district level. Chief Minister personally monitors the situation with the members of CMG, Departmental heads concerned, Ministers and others on regular basis. In view of the drought prevailing in the state, the State Government has already initiated measures to provide immediate relief to the affected population and also make necessary preparations after scientifically estimating the future scenario likely to arise due to scarce water conditions. Besides making necessary arrangements for irrigation, seeds for contingent crops, food grains, drinking water, fodder and water for cattle and other animals, the State Government has stepped up its efforts to create job opportunities for agricultural labourers through MNREGS implemented by the Rural Development Department and poverty alleviation schemes of other Government departments. The State Government also plans distribution of gratuitous relief to the drought affected families/persons after their grain stock is exhausted. The Government has also issued orders under state s own scheme, Shatabdi Anna Kalash Yojana for storing one quintal grain in every Panchayat as a revolving stock for combating emergencies. Assessing the enormity of the problem caused by the drought and its impact on the state population, the State Government with its limited resources is trying its best to tackle the situation effectively. The major steps taken by State Government include- Agriculture Sectoro Diesel subsidy has been Rs. 250/ per acre per irrigation for two irrigations for raising paddy seedlings. Diesel subsidy has also been Rs 250/ per acre per irrigation for four irrigation of 14

15 transplanted paddy and four irrigation of maize for whole state. o An amount of Rs crore sanctioned and Rs crore released to districts for diesel subsidy to save paddy seedlings, standing crops of paddy and maize. o Rs crore sanctioned and released under contingent crop scheme for providing seeds of alternative crop on 100% subsidy basis o Weekly advisory is being issued by Department of Agriculture to the Officers for their respective districts in consultation with scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendras. o Contingency crop planning is being publicized through mass media. o Steps taken to encourage farmers to take 'toria' as cash crops. o Steps being taken to maximise irrigation through both major and minor irrigation schemes. Energy Sectoro A minimum power supply of 8 hours being ensured in the rural areas for irrigation. o Control Room made functional at Bihar State Power (Holding) Company headquarters to monitor power supply in the rural areas. o Burnt/ defective transformers being replaced on priority basis in rural areas so that the farmers can irrigate their farms using their own electric pumps. o Regular monitoring and review of power supply and related issues by CMG and Company s top management Drinking Watero Contingency plan estimated at Rs crore for maintaining drinking water supply in the entire state in the light of rainfall deficit prepared. ( Annex 5-i) 15

16 o Scheme for Rehabilitation/ Rejuvenation/Special repair of hand pumps amounting to Rs crore proposed. o For sinking of sustainable Tube wells with India Mark-II pump amounting to Rs crore proposed, out of which scheme for hand pumps sanctioned and work in progress. o Mini piped water supply Scheme worth Rs crore in small villages with electric pump for installing 500 sets proposed. o Mini piped water supply Scheme worth Rs crore in remote villages with solar pump for installing 700 sets proposed out of which 634 schemes sanctioned. o Up keeping of drinking water supply and transport of drinking water for Urban Areas worth Rs crore in 105 towns proposed. o Setting up Control Room with spare parts of hand pumps, motor pumps and labour gang for immediate redressal of the problem, supervision and monitoring in each P.H. division worth Rs crore proposed. Health Sectoro Instructions issued to all districts for addressing health issues in the context of prevailing situation o Fully equipped Mobile Medical Units sanctioned for all districts. o All necessary drugs available in all health facilities. Livestock Sectoro Places identified with drinking water facilities for establishment of cattle camps (preferably near State tube-wells). o Funds made available to all districts to purchase veterinary medicines. o Awareness generation material being published to save cattle from heat and water scarcity. 16

17 Employment Sectoro Instructions issued to the districts to continue schemes in rainy season and ensure measurement of the earthwork after every two days. o Instructions issued to the districts to ensure that adequate number of technically approved schemes in the shelf of projects of all the panchayats are kept ready and labour budget is reassessed in the drought affected areas accordingly. o Under MGNREGS, works related to water conservation like deepening of ponds, canals, pynes (canals), ahars (check dams); social forestry; micro irrigation works, provision of irrigation facility, drought proofing, etc., taken up; 4. Declaration of Drought An estimation of the status of the drought was made on the basis of information collected through various sources mentioned below: 1. Inputs from District Magistrates regarding deficient/ scanty rainfall, coverage of kharif crop, especially paddy transplantation, impact of deficient rainfall on other sectors and actual field level situation and prevailing ground realities. 2. Recommendation of the state Department of Agriculture based on crop condition and rainfall deficit 3. Deliberations in the meetings of CMG 4. Inputs from local office of IMD On the basis of the information and inputs received from the above sources, the Government of Bihar has on , declared 33 districts as drought affected, and decided to constantly monitor the situation in the remaining 05 districts. The indicators mentioned in the Crisis Management Plan of the Union Ministry of Agriculture were duly considered while deciding the drought affected districts. The names of 33 districts which have been declared drought affected are Patna, Nalanda, Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur, Gaya, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Nawada, Munger, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Begusarai, Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Vaishali, Sheohar, E. Champaran, West 17

18 Champaran, Madhubani, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Katihar, Purnia, Madhepura, Saharsha, Supaul. In case the situation in remaining 05 districts worsens they may also be declared drought hit. Map of Bihar showing the 33 drought hit districts is given below: 18

19 The deficit in rainfall data and coverage of paddy in these 33 drought hit districts are shown in the table below: Table 6: Shortage of rainfall and paddy coverage in 33 drought hit districts S. No District Rainfall deficit in June2013 (%) Rainfall deficit in July 2013 (%) Rainfall deficit in August 2013 (%) Rainfall deficit from 1 June to 11 September 2013 (%) Coverage of Paddy (%) (up to ) 1 Vaishali Lakhisarai Sitamarhi Sheikhpura Sheohar Gaya Nawada Muzaffarpur Samastipur Buxar Saran Begusarai Madhubani Gopalganj Khagaria Kaimur Patna Darbhanga Saharsa Aurangabad Bhojpur Nalanda Jehanabad E.Champaran Jamui Munger Bhagalpur Purnia Katihar W.Champaran Siwan Madhepura Supaul

20 5. Steps taken/to be taken in the drought affected districts Following the declaration of drought in these 33 districts, the State Government has immediately taken the following steps to give immediate relief to farmers for the financial year : 1. Suspension of realization of cooperative loan 2. Suspension of realization of land revenue and cess, 3. Suspension of realization of irrigation dues and electricity dues related to agriculture from the farmers in these districts The State Government has entrusted its different departments to perform the following key tasks in the main sectors which have been affected by drought: Agriculture Sector: Agriculture input subsidy for diesel, seeds, etc. Action to facilitate alternate cropping & providing agriculture loan to the farmers through Cooperative and Nationalised Banks. Strengthening alternate water sources for irrigation. Contingency plan to be prepared and implemented by Water Resources and Minor Water Resources Departments for this purpose. Diesel subsidy has been extended for kharif crop. It may also be considered for rabi cultivation if situation so warrants. Action to facilitate farmers getting benefit under crop insurance scheme. Drinking Water Sector: Drinking water facility has to be provided in affected areas. Damaged / defunct hand pumps & drilled tube wells to be made functional and new hand pumps installed wherever required. Transportation of water from nearest available areas by tankers, tractors/ trucks loaded with P.V.C tanks wherever required. Ensuring supply of drinking water in urban areas of the affected districts as well. Uninterrupted electric supply has to be provided for piped water supply systems in urban areas. Sufficient submersible pumps to be kept in all affected districts as standby, for immediate replacement of damaged pumps to ensure uninterrupted water supply. 20

21 Help lines/ Control Rooms for registration and redress of grievances relating to drinking water. Food Grain Sector: Ensuring availability of sufficient food stocks in all affected districts. Effective monitoring of Annapurna & Antyodaya Yojana. Sufficient food stock to be kept ready for GR distribution wherever required. One quintal grain to be stored at Panchyat level as revolving stock under Shatabdi Anna Kalash Yojana implemented by Disaster Management Department. Livestock Sector: Ensuring sufficient availability of fodder in the affected districts. Alternative arrangements for drinking water for animals Temporary cattle camps wherever necessary Ensuring availability of sufficient medicines for animals. Deployment of mobile Veterinary Medical Teams in all affected districts. Employment Sector Works under MGNREGS to be taken up to generate additional employment opportunities. Schemes relating to water conservation, such as digging of new ponds and deepening of existing ones, construction of check dam, afforestation/ tree plantation etc to be taken up and list of sanctioned schemes to be kept ready. Energy Sector: Continue providing uninterrupted power supply to the farmers for at least 08 hours/day. Replacement of burnt/defected transformers in the rural areas. Health Sector : Stocking of sufficient medicines at all health facilities. Deployment of Mobile medical teams in all affected areas. Social Welfare Sector Special care to be provided to pregnant women and children of affected areas under existing ICDS schemes. 21

22 Sufficient quantity of ORS packets and paracetamol tablets stored in all Anganwadi Centers. Special care and attention to SAM children 6. Assistance Sought from Centre I. Agriculture (a) Agriculture Input Subsidy: Agriculture sector has been the worst victim of the deficient Monsoon rainfall during sowing season (June and July) and no rainfall in September. On account of the deficient monsoon, late sowing of the paddy and no rains in the September the total area where crop damage has been to the extent of 50% and more is estimated to be 14,81,554 ha. As per SDRF/NDRF norms, farmers are entitled to Agriculture Input subsidy when they suffer 50% or more loss of their standing crop. Also, the rate of Input subsidy is Rs. 4500/ha for rainfed areas and Rs.9000/ha. for irrigated area as per SDRF/NDRF norms. Hence an amount of Rs crore or say, Rs crore will be required for Agriculture Input subsidy. (Annex 4) (b) Diesel Subsidy The State Government has decided to provide subsidy to the farmers for purchase of diesel to irrigate the kharif crops. The subsidy included diesel subsidy for irrigating the Paddy seedling, standing crop & to plant the new crop. An amount of Rs crore has been 250 per acre per irrigation for 2 irrigations to save paddy seedling and 4 irrigations for transplanted paddy and maize crop. (c) Seed Subsidy Under contingent crop scheme an amount of Rs crore has been sanctioned and released to provide seeds of alternative crop on 100% subsidy basis to the farmers. State Government proposes to provide 50% subsidy on purchase of certified seed for Rabi crop season. The subsidy amount will include the subsidy available under the ongoing scheme. An amount of Rs crore would be required for seed subsidy in addition to the sanctioned amount under the scheme for Rabi. Annexed as Annex-4(a). 22

23 Thus, the total requirement to tackle drought in the agriculture sector is Rs (Rs Rs Rs Rs86.00) crore or say Rs crore. II. Water Resources Bihar has well developed canal system which provides irrigation to certain parts of the State. The CMG is continuously reviewing the quantum of irrigation provided through the canal system and Water Resources Department has taken effective steps to reach water at the fag end of every canal. However, several constraints and obstructions are to be removed to provide optimum irrigation through the canal system. The existing systems need to be renovated and strengthened so as to ensure irrigation to every nook and corner. To overcome the constraints and remove obstructions, the Water Resources Department would require an estimated amount of Rs 235 crore as detailed below in Table 7: Table 7. Funds required by Water Resources Dept for tackling drought Sl No Name of Scheme Districts benefited Estimated Amount (Rs in crores) 1 Resectioning of bank of different Bhojpur, Rohtas, Buxar, distributaries of Sone system, Aurangabad, Kaimur, North Koel and other systems (20% Arwal, Gaya and others of km) 2 Silt removal in different canal do system (assuming 30% of km silted up to 0.3 m and average width 5 m) Total III.Minor Water Resources In order to save the standing crop and to enable the farmers to grow Rabi crops, the existing infrastructure for minor irrigation would need to be revamped. Vigorous monitoring of the functioning of state tube wells is being done by the Crisis Management Group and Minor Water Resources Department. The Department has 23

24 prepared a contingency plan to mitigate drought impact under which following actions are being taken:- 1. To increase number of functional state tube wells, 2. To make most of 1402 nos. of DG Set operated state tube wells, installed under RIDF Phase-8, functional. The repair, maintenance and operation of these tube wells have been handed over to the beneficiary committees. Since the performance of these tube wells has not yielded desired results, it is proposed that these tube wells may be taken back from the respective beneficiary committees and henceforth operated, maintained and repaired by the concerned Tube Well Divisions of the State Government. 3. Immediate removal of mechanical fault of tube wells, 4. To ensure presence of Tube well Operators round the clock at the functional tube wells. 5. Regular Co-ordination meeting with officials of BSPHCL for installation of 53 nos. of transformers for those tube wells which are non functional due to unavailability of transformers. 6. Department has ensured presence of tube well operators according to the schedule of availability of electricity provided by BSPHCL and its distribution companies. In order to implement the contingency plan the Department of Minor Water resources would require fund amounting to Rs crores as detailed in the Table

25 Table 8. Funds required by Minor Water Resources Dept for tackling drought Sl No Items 1 Channel Repairing & Restoration (Only old State Tube Wells) 2 Pump house Repair (Only Old State Tube wells) 3 Repair of Motor Pump including electrical itemsetc. 4 Repair of DG Sets, Motor Pumps, Pump Houses, Channels of State Tube wells constructed under RIDF Phase- VIII Total:- Amount Details (Rs in lakh) Repairing/Restoration of 1000 m of Channel for 505 nos of tube wells tube Rs lakh per tube well Repairing/Restoration of 505 nos. of tube Rs lakh per PH. 38 Repair of Old Motor Pumps and other electrical and mechanical items 190 nos@rs 0.20 lakh each Repair of DG Sets, Motor Pumps, Pump Houses, Channels for 1402 nos. OF tube Rs Lakh each Rs Total requirement for the Minor Water Resources sector to tackle drought is Rs lakh or say Rs crore. IV.Drinking Water Sector The Public Health Engineering Department is the nodal agency for providing safe drinking water to rural areas. The drought like situation has led to a varying fall in the water table and drying up of some drinking water sources. The drought plan for providing drinking water to villages includes repair of all existing hand-pumps as well as rural and urban piped water supply systems. The length of the riser pipe of the hand-pumps will have to be increased so as to reach the depleting water table. Some new hand-pumps will have to be sunk or drilled to provide drinking water at villages where the water table has gone down substantially and where lowering the riser pipe will not help. Drinking Water will have to be supplied through tankers in some villages. A detailed contingency plan to provide drinking water has been prepared for the 33 drought hit districts amounting to Rs crores. The overall assistance sought from Central Government admissible under SDRF is given in Table 8 below. 25

26 Table 9: Central assistance sought to supplement drinking water supply during the drought Sl. No. Name of Schemes Nos. Amount (in Lakh) Annexure Upkeeping of running Rural Piped Water Supply Schemes Transportation of Drinking water to scarcity hit villages/habitations See annexure 5-ii 3 Upkeeping of drinking water supply & transport of drinking water for Urban areas. 105 Towns See annexure 5-iii 4 Setting up control room with spare parts of hand pump, motor pumps, and labour gang for immediate redressal of the problem, supervision & monitoring in each P.H division See annexure-5-iv Total Say Rs crores Thus, the total requirement to tackle drought in the drinking water sector is Rs crore. V.Food Grains Gratuitous Relief (GR) As per para 1(f) of the SDRF norms, Rs. 40/- per adult and Rs.30/- per child per day is to be paid as Gratuitous Relief to those who have no food reserve and who have no other immediate means of support. It is estimated that there are around 78,37,197 persons in the 33 districts who belong to the most vulnerable category and may face starvation if not given Gratuitous Relief as per SDRF norms. This number includes old persons above 60 years of age, widows, persons with disability, infirm and destitute persons. The district wise details of such persons are at Annex 6. They would require Gratuitous Relief till the Rabi crop is harvested. A total of Rs crore (Nine hundred Forty crore Forty Six lakhs Thirty Six thousand Four hundred Rupees) will be required to meet this expenditure for 30 days; Rs crore (One thousand Eight hundred Eighty crores Ninety Two lakhs Seventy Two thousand Eight hundred Rupees) for 60 days and Rs crore (Two thousand Eight hundred Twenty One crores Thirty Nine lakhs Nine thousand Two hundred Rupees) for 90 days. 26

27 Thus the total requirement is Rs crores or say, crore to give GR to the eligible persons under SDRF norms for 90 days. (Annex 6) VI. Supplementary Nutrition to Children In the drought affected 33 districts, the child population of 6 months to 06 years is lakh. Out of this population, only lakh children are covered under ICDS and enrolled in the Anganwadi Centres; the remaining lakh children are not covered under ICDS and do not get benefit of nutritious food which is provided in the Anganwadi Centres.. These children would be most vulnerable to the ill effects of drought if no supplementary nutrition is provided to them. Hence it is proposed to provide supplementary nutrition to lakh uncovered Rs 6 per child per day for 90 days. The amount required for this purpose is estimated to be Rs crore for 90 days. VII. Kerosene Oil Requirement of kerosene oil Also, 1.96 crore families in the 33 drought hit districts will be required to be provided 2.75 litres of kerosene per month, over and above the existing allocation under the PDS. An additional 5,39,00,000 litres (53,900 KL) of kerosene will have to be provided per month under this arrangement for provision of kerosene to the affected families. VIII. Livestock Sector Generally no immediate problem arises to livestock due to drought. But in case it prolongs for longer period, it affects the fodder & water supply with prospective effects. To compensate it, the contingent Action plan prepared is as follows:- (a) Provision of fodder/feed concentrate including water supply and medicine in cattle camps Generally, availability of animal fodder is not a major problem at the time of drought as the residue of agriculture product of the previous year is used for fodder, but drought has a long lasting effect on animal fodder. It is worth mentioning that the 438 blocks of 33 districts are facing drought and it is expected to affect nearly 1,55,73,327 animals (cattle and buffalo species). Expecting the drought would persist because there is midseason withdrawal of monsoon in September and no rains in sight, 1458 animal camps are being proposed to be setup in all the 438 blocks of the 27

28 33 district where availability of fodder and water for animals could be a problem. As per the SDRF norms, there is provision of Rs. 25/- for small animal per day and Rs. 50/- for large animal per day for making available fodder/feed concentrate including water supply and medicines in the cattle camps. So, for setting up cattle camps for all animals it is estimated that an amount of Rs crores will be required per day. For 30 days this amount would be in the tune of Rs crore and for 90 days it would be Rs crore. However, if only 25% cattle are kept in camps, as per SDRF norms, the estimated amount for 30 days would be Rs crore and for 90 days it would be Rs 1314 crore. (b) Carriage of fodder from divisional depot to cattle camps :- There will be need to carry the fodder from fodder depot, which can be set up at divisional headquarters. For this Rs. 5,000/- per truck will have to made available. Thus it may cost Rs crore. It is worth mentioning that a truck carries 6 tonnes of fodder animals may be fed with one truck load of fodder. Thus Rs crore will be spent for 1458 camps for 90 days on carriage of fodder. Work plan 1) The Department of Animal and Fisheries Resources has fixed the rate of dry fodder by inviting tender. The rate has been communicated to all districts. The amount for purchase and transportation of fodder will be spent by the concerned districts. 2) Assessment for the medicines, chemicals etc. will be made by concerned veterinary officers. 3) Stocks verification of the items purchased by DAHO will be done by District Administration. Table 10: Assistance sought by Department of Animal and Fisheries Resources for tackling Drought 1 Items Provision of fodder/feed concentrate including water supply and medicine in the cattle camps for 90 days (Rs. In Crores) Assessment for assistance Transportation of fodder from fodder depot T o t a l Rs

29 Thus, the total cost of contingency plan for cattle requires Rs Crore as per SDRF norms. IX. Employment Sector Rural Employment In the drought situation, acute shortage of employment in rural areas occurs. Hence, a large population would be in search of employment in the drought affected areas. In Bihar the major programme for generation of employment is taken up under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). It is operational in all 38 districts of Bihar. A total of job cards have been issued to rural families in the rural areas of 33 drought affected districts till August, Plan of Action In view of likely large demand of employment in drought affected areas the state government has to launch special drive for employment under MGNREGS. The Department has directed the District Programme Co-ordinators to continue execution of schemes in rainy season and to ensure measurement of the earthwork after every two days. They have been asked to ensure that adequate number of technically approved schemes in the shelf of projects of all the panchayats in the state is kept ready and labour budget is reassessed in the drought affected areas, accordingly. The approved Labour Budget for these 33 districts for current FY is lakh person days. It is proposed to enhance it to lakh person days. Additional Central share due to this increase shall be Rs crore and additional state share will be Rs crore. [Calculation sheet attached at Annexure 8]. X. Energy Sector Bihar State Power (Power) Holding Company Limited has started providing power to rural areas continuously for more than 8 hours since for irrigation to tackle the situation arising out of drought in various districts. In addition, 300 MW electricity is being purchased through distribution companies incurring an amount of Rs.75.6 crore per month. Since, no additional revenue is generated by supplying extra electricity to the irrigation consumers at fixed rates, the distribution companies would suffer a loss of Rs crore for three months because of tariff pattern in rural areas. The state Government has to compensate this loss to the power companies. 29

30 Hence, the requirement for compensating loss incurred by the power distribution companies on account of supplying extra electricity to the farmers for irrigation purposes is estimated to be Rs crore. Thus, the total financial liability to meet the power requirements would be Rs crore. XI. Health Sector Drought adversely impacts economy, environment, and the people s health, particularly the health of the vulnerable section of the society. It is therefore necessary to be prepared for combating the diseases which occur during the drought period. The Health department is making arrangements of medicines, constituting mobile medical teams and taking steps for prevention of diseases which affect the population during drought. The department is also putting in place a robust monitoring mechanism at district and state level. The department is extra cautious to prevent and deal with epidemics if they occur in drought affected districts or any other place in the state. To combat the diseases which are caused by drought, the estimated expenditure would be Rs 7.60 crore. XII. Bank Loan At times of crises like the present drought, it would be extremely difficult for the farmers to repay the loans taken for agriculture. The state Government on its own has suspended the collection of Cooperative bank loans. Commercial bank loans should also be rescheduled and the interest for the current year be deferred/ waived as per RBI guidelines. Banks should provide consumption and also agricultural loans at low rates of interest. 30